RAILWAY SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 19171, 15 February 1924, Page 6

RAILWAY SERVICE

SOUTHLAND’S REQUIREMENTS. DEPUTATION TO MR COATES. One of the largest and most important deputations which has waited upon a Minister* cf the Crown in Invercargill for some time oast attended at the Grand Hotel last evening for the purpose of asking Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Railways, to undertake the provision of improved means of railway communication with northern centres. The deputation headed by the president of the Southland League (Mr C. J. Brcdrick), the president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr A. le H. Hoyles) and the Mayor (Mr Andrew Bain.) Mr Hoyles in outlining the requirements of the province in regard to express train services with the north took the epportumtj 7 of extending a welcmne to Mr Coates, whom, he said, was the first Minister of Railways to visit Southland since the late Sir William Herries had undertaken a trip down to Invercargill some seven years ago. The speaker said that what was required was the quickest possible means of transit between Invercargill- and the north. The province was geographically handicapped- and it was the duty of the Government to remove that disability.’ Invercargill was a rapidly growing centre with a population of 20,000 people and was the only place in the Dominion which was at present being burdened with inconvenient services that were absolutely unfair and unjust as well as restricting the commercial activities of the province. He would have no hesitation in placing the full facts of the case before the Minister. They were desirous of having a daily express through to Lyttelton but when the necessity had arisen for a cut to be made they had not raised any objection because they recognised-.as loyal and patriotic citizens that the reduced services were imperative. Now, however, matters were entirely different.. He was strongly of opinion that ample facilities would produce better business and the maintenance of a daily connection with Wellington was very desirable. Mr Hoyles then quoted instances where both mails and passengers had been unduly delayed through the express services running on alternate days. It was peculiar that in this respect no other towns suffered in the same way as Invercargill did. Respite what might be said to the contrary, the lines in Southland were paying their way and there was no justification for the main lines being burdened with the cost of the branch lines, many of which were not paying their way. Mr Coates: I agree with you but I am wondering whether extra services should be introduced without any regard to the expense involved. Mr Hoyles: Give it a trial. Ample facilities for traffic will achieve the end desired. Mr R. M. Strang then voiced the general opinion of members of the Chamber regarding the attitude of the Department. The trouble was that ordinary business methods were entirely absent from the Department’s activities, and as a result the railways were gradually giving place to the motor. There was also no effort made to get back the business lost and they had kept absolutely aloof from their custorhers. Mr Coates: Unfortunately you have control. They are your railways. Mr Strang: We do not wish to treat you or your Department harshly, we want to offer every facility to carry on the railways in a businesslike manner. For instance the motor lorry owners make every endeavour to get traffic and see that they get it. Why do the traffic managers not do likewise ?

Mr Coates: I am inclined to agree that this has not been done as much as it might have been in the past. Mr Strang: We are very pleased to hear that and that you are contemplating taking action to bring about a much desired change. The only way you are going to overcome the present position is by personal contact with the business section of the community. Mr Gilkison drew attention to the delays which occurred in the receipt of overseas mails and also quoted some instances where the Departmental methods were not quite of a business-like nature.

Mr McVilly in the course of a lengthy reply spoke on much the same lines as he did at Gore the previous evening. He stated that a double service would be maintained so long as the traffic warranted such a course being followed, but immeditaely the traffic diminished they had to consider the requirements of the country as a whole and not to favour any particular locality. Mr Hoyles: Quite right. We won’t want anything of that nature. Returns of the number of passengers using the present services went to show that one train per day was capable of carrying all the passengers travelling on the two trains daily. 'This in conjunction with the fact that huge losses were being experienced in the running of the services and he did not think there was much prospect of the position being improved yet a while. Mr Coates said that he was going to suggest that apparently there was a good deal of misunderstanding between<«the Department and those making the representations. He therefore proposed in the near future to take such steps as to bring the commercial community into closer touch with the management. Surely they as business men would realise the necessity of the railways at least paying interest charges on the amount invested in the railways by the people otherwise the taxpayer had to bear the burden. They hoped to decentralise the administrative work and that instead of the General Manager being required to deal with complaints they would be dealt with by the officers on the spot. Voices: That is what we require. Mr Brodrick and Mr Hoyles then expressed their appreciation of the manner in which the Minister had received the deputation which sincerely hoped the representations made would receive very favourable consideration and that very soon th« facilities asked for would be provided.