EXPRESS TRAINS

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 5

EXPRESS TRAINS

BETTER SERVICE WANTED CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES A meeting of representatives of the local bodies interested in the matter of the railway passenger service from Invercargill was held yesterday afternoon under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce. The following were present:—Mr A. le H. Hoyles (chairman), Messrs T. Fraser, A. S. Fleming (Gore), J. McCrostie, J. Miller, E. McPhail, R. Dunlop, C. J. Broad, J. Macalister, A. W. Rodger, A. McKenzie, J. Vickery, J. Gilkison, J. Brass, W. Boyes, 8. Ritchie, C. S. Longuet and R. M. Strang. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs E. Bowmar, H. F. Drewe and C. J. Brodrick.

The chairman in outlining the reasons for the meeting stated that they were met together to discuss the present railway service as it affected Southland and to determine whether in their opinion it was sufficient for the needs of the province. If they considered that an improvement could be effected then they must decide what steps they could take to bring it about. At the present time so far as the passenger service was concerned on the main lines they had the through express to Christchurch on alternate days in each week and the afternoon express to Dunedin on the other days. Whether they should endeavour to get a through daily service to Dunedin and approach the Railway Department to reinstate* the through express service daily between Christchurch and Invercargill as soon as the ferry steamers Maori and Wahine resumed running was for the meeting to determine. His own opinion was that the present service with the Mararoa in commission did not affect the province so much but when the two fast boats resumed running the position was entirely different. Another question they, the conference, might be prepared to discuss was that of the motor competing with the Department. He had been looking into the facts affecting the revenue derived from the train services and he had no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the position was slightly different from what they had been led to believe by the Department, though whether they would be able to convince the Department thkt they had a just cause for complaint was somewhat doubtful. The railway mileage, including the double track and siding accommodation in the North Island, which had a population of 741,256 with 1,290 miles of track, whilst the South Island only had a population of 477,658 and 1,740 miles of track. So it would be readily seen why it was that the North Island with its increased population and decreased mileage, compared with the South, has made such a good showing in the railway revenue accounts. Then again take the South Island mileage, 631 miles of that was on the main lines and the remainder, 1109 on branch lines. “I should like to say” continued Mr Hoyles, “that we do not want any advantage if it is to be gained at the expense of the country districts. We realise that it may be somewhat difficult for the country residents to use the trains if the express trains are to leave in the early morning which will necessitate people staying overnight in Invercargill. I want to make that point particularly clear. The figures I have obtained undoubtedly show that the main lines are paying whilst the branch lines are not, that is speaking of the service throughout the whole island but I do not say that that is so so far as Southland is concerned.”

In reply as to what extra cost would be involved by the running of extra expresses, Mr Hoyles stated that he did not think it would involve a very heavy expense, as the staff was available to run the trains.

Mr Boyce speaking on behalf of the Commercial Travellers’ Association stated that the general opinion among the commercial travellers was that the through express every day was required. Mr Gilkison remarked that in his opinion the service was now much worse than for many years past. Mr Longuet said he did not think the people were satisfied with the present service though they had been told that to ask for a better service would embarrass the Government and they had accepted the present service on that assurance rather than allow the service to be run at a great loss. Generally speaking the present trains carried a large number of passengers and did not appear to suggest any serious losses having to be faced. Mr Hoyles replied that so far as the main lines were concerned they were paying. To run the additional trains would only involve the cost of fuel, oil and maintenance.

Mr Ritchie asked if there was any way of meeting the Department and discussing the figures as the statement that the express service right through daily involved a loss of £BOOO per month hardly seemed a fair statement. In his opinion it would be advisable to challenge the statement and so be in a position to ascertain exactly how the loss was made up. He stressed the point that Southland was entitled to special consideration because it was right at the end of the line and could when the Department so willed be isolated from the rest of the Dominion. He thought that it was a very serious position to be placed in and if the conference could approach the Department perhaps some better understanding could be arrived at. Mr Hoyles remarked that immediately the Department was approached they would proceed to quote their figures which were merely based on averages and were not a fair indication at all. Personally he did not think there was any doubt about their being able to prove that the supposed loss of £BOOO was excessive. He suggested that if the Department provided the facilities it would encourage the volume of traffic. Mr Ritchie then moved and Mr Strang seconded the following motion which was carried unanimously.—“ That this conference representative of all local bodies in Southland expresses great dissatisfaction with the existing railway facilities and asks that in addition to the present express passenger service an extra afternoon express from Invercargill to Dunedin and a morning express between Dunedin and Invercargill on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays be run such addition to take effect before, if possible, but not later than August 1 next; also that the question of a daily through express service to Lyttelton be given serious consideration by the Department.”

Mr Fleming (Gore) then drew attention to the desirability of something being done to bring under the notice of the Department the condition of the railway carriages in regard to uncleanliness which he described as the worst he had ever seen and had been adversely commented upon by many visitors from all parts of the world. Mr Fleming’s remarks were endorsed by the meeting generally and it was resolved that the secretary should write to the District Traffic Manager and draw his attention to the matter in the hope that some improvement in the sanitary condition of the carriages generally and the lighting facilities would be effected.