DOMINION RAILWAYS PRAISED

Southland Times, Issue 23208, 25 May 1937, Page 9

DOMINION RAILWAYS PRAISED

AUSTRALIAN VISITOR’S TRIBUTE

Among recent visitors from overseas who found much to praise in the New Zealand railways was Mr E. H. Angelo, M.L.C., of West Australia. When he was interviewed on his return to Perth by a representative of The Western Mail, he remarked: “New Zealand seems to be progressing at a very rapid rate.” • There was building activity in every centre he visited and the railway system was being enlarged considerably, said Mr Angelo when interviewed. New Zealand possessed 3300 miles of railway, and, although the gauge was only 3ft 6in, the same as in Western Australia, the carriages there were the most comforable he had ever seen. Trains used on the principal routes carried an observation car equipped with adjustable easy chairs, and the sides of the carriages were practically all glass, giving an uninterrupted view of points of interest passed. The railway officials vied with one another in paying attention to tourists, seldom failing to point out scenic attractions. The trains, as far as his experience went, were never behind time, and the whole system was a credit to the management. He had brought back with him photographs, specifications and blue prints of the Dominion’s latest railcars, which he intended giving to the Commissioner of Railways. The cars were built in the New Zealand Railway workshops He visited many popular tourist resorts and was charmed with the mountain and other scenery. Tourists fiom Switzerland had declared that the scenic attractions were far better than those of the European Alps. •