DEPARTURE OF EXPRESS

Southland Times, Issue 23681, 2 December 1938, Page 4

DEPARTURE OF EXPRESS

Delay Suggested By League

TRAFFIC MANAGER TO BE APPROACHED A proposal that tlie morning express from Invercargill should leave later than it does at present was made by the chairman (Mr G. M. Broughton) at last night’s meeting of the executive of the Southland Progress League. He thought a small deputation should be appointed to wait on the district traffic manager to ascertain what steps could be taken to improve the position. Mr J. Pickard suggested that the Union Steam Ship Company should also be approached. The chairman explained that he was not speaking in a spirit of criticism, because the department was always alert in looking for opportunities to improve the service. They would probably find that it had given the matter consideration, and would arrange for a later departure as soon as it was practicable to do so. Many people would be glad to see the train leaving at 8 a.m. instead of 7 am., as at present Mr H. F. Drewe: It is a matter of connecting with the ferry isn’t it? Mr A. S. Russell asked whether the idea was that the whole service should be delayed an hour, or whether the train should make up the time on the journey. • . 7 The chairman: Both. I think the train could make up half an hour or 40 minutes on the trip, and the ferry could be delayed for a quarter of an hour or so. It has left late on other occasions and has still been able to reach Wellington at the scheduled time. Mr A. W. Hamilton said he thought the idea was a good one, but it would take time to work it in. A new time table had just been printed. Mr Russell suggested that it would be better to write to the traffic manager instead of appointing a deputation.

'Mr Pickard agreed that that would be a better plan, as it would not be possible for the traffic manager to make a decision off hand. The matter would have to be looked into first. It was decided to forward a letter to the district traffic manager.