RAILWAY TIME-TABLES

Southland Times, Issue 17938, 18 May 1917, Page 5

RAILWAY TIME-TABLES

LOCAL. ACTION. As the outcome of a resolution passed by the Invercargill Branch of the Southland League, a meeting of representatives of various public bodies was held yesterday for the purpose of discussing the Southland time-tables and particularly their bearing on secondary oducation in XnvercargilL The meeting u«s attended by His Worship the Maror (Mr J. Stead), Messrs 6. Madndoe, T. D. Pearce, G. T. Stevens, J. Crosby Smith, R. Scatter, H. Fowler,. H. D. M. Hasaard. Colin Robertson, T. Middleton, T. 0. A. Moffett, W. J. A. MacGregor, Or Hansen, and the Secretary (Mr C. Campbell). The Mayor briefly outlined the objects of the meeting, and said that many valuable suggestions had been adopted by Government Departments as the outcome of meetings held for the purpose of obtaining an expression of public opinion. So far as Southland railways were concerned, his own experience had convinced him that the question of improving the existing time-tables was one that would profitably bear discussion. Mr H. Fowler stated that, while staffsaving had been forced on the Department and must be accepted together with the dislocation arising out of same, still he was of opinion that to sacrifice the next generation in order to benefit this one was something that must not be done. The war was being waged largely for the sake of the generations yet to be, and to deprive our children of their education a-nd render them unfit for the work which must inevitably be theirs in a more strenuous and concentrated form, was most undesirable. Lowering individual efficiency in this way would undoubtedly reduce national efficiency. He felt that the time bad not arrived when it was necessary to so arrange the railway time-tables that it would only permit the children to have the advantage of very limited socondry teaching. Hs moved that no time-table will be considered reasonably satisfactory that will not provide the children with five hours in Invercargill, between the arrival and departure of the trains. The motion was seconded by Mr Scatter, Chairman of the ©tautau Ttewn Board. Dr Hansen stated that the 48 students travelling on the Clinton line had now only three hours class time; 31 students from Lumsden line had four hours and ten minutes class time, while the 68 students travelling from the River too Branch had 3% hours class time. This provided for a luncheon adjournment of 66 minutes, which he considered absolutely necessary for the sake of the health of the children. He considered that a minimum time of four hours tar class work was necessary to make it worth while for students to come to. Mr Macindoe spoke of the penalty that children had to pay for their education, In as much as the long hours or travelling. In addition to those occupied in training, was akin to slavery. Mr G. T. Stevens outlined the effect that the time-tables are having on manula training and pointed to the fact that depriving children of education at that period of their lives when they could only take advantage of it was asking them to make a sacrifice for the rest of their lives. Mr T D. Pearce thought that tpe speeding up of the Clinton train would meet the position. He thought that a half-hour could be easily made up on this line; “Just fancy,” he said, taking 2% hourfe to do forty miles.” Mr Middleton: “That’s according to the time-table. It takes about four hours in practice.” (Laughter.) The Mayor pointed out that trains were now being run not as passenger trains, but as mixed trains, hence timetables were not strictly adhered to, and it was a common practice for the trains to arrive much behind schedule time. Mr J. Crosby Smith urged that representations be made to the Minister of Education on hts forthcoming visit. Messrs T. Middleton and C. Robertson, speaking on behalf of the country people, stated that the running of the first express only from Invercargill would not meet with approval, and it was explained that what was now being asked for was a three days’ service the first express and three of the existing express. On being put to ttie meeting the motion was carried unanimously. Dr Hansen and Mr H. hj owler were, on the motion of Messrs Stevens and Middleton, appointed to wait upon the Farmens’ Union Conference and ask for cooperation in this matter, and on the motion of Mr J. Crosby Smith, it was resolved that a deputation, including His Worship the Mayor, and members of the Farmers’ Union, Southland League, and kindred bodies, wait upon the Minister of Education during his forthcoming V *After a brief discussion respecting the feasibility of establishing hostels in Invercargill, the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.