"STRATFORD EVENING POST" WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESADY, JUNE 16, 1925. SUGGESTED NIGHT TRAINS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 91, 16 June 1925, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESADY, JUNE 16, 1925. SUGGESTED NIGHT TRAINS.

The suggestion that the Railway Department should put on night trains to run between New Plymouth and Wellington and Napier and Wellington for the benefit of business men, has much to commend it, and would undoubtedly result in the saving of a great deal of time to the business community. In many countries night trains are run on all the principal lines, and night travelling is finding increasing favor amongst those people to whom time is valuable. An American visitor who was in Stratford recently was emphatic that the institution of more night ser- ! vices in New Zealand was highly desirable. The suggestion under review which came from the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce will no doubt be generally supported by similar bodies both in Taranaki and Hawke's Bay, and probably also in Wanganui. The Wanganui Herald discussed the proposal recently, and was rather in favor of it although Wanganui, on account of its proximity to the Main Trunk line, where night trains are run, is not greatly, affected. The matter will in due. course be put before Mr Coates, and will no doubt receive careful and \sympathetic consideration, for he has, shown tbat he is out to popularise the railways. But at the same time he will, before taking any definite steps, want to know that the service in question will be a paying proposition as well as a convenience, because the extra cost to tlae Department will be fairly substantial. In addition to the cost of running and staffing the train, officers will require to be on duty at the various stations between New Plymouth and Marton and between Napier and Paimerston North. That ; incurs overtime or else a fairly con- j siderable addition to the staff. Of I cou.rse the service may become more I and more popular as time goes on, j or it may even be a success from the j outset. At present there is no infor mation available as to the traffic that would be available, and it is certain that the Minister will re- j quire such information before decid- | ing to inaugurate the new services. , Certainly Taranaki and Hawke's j Bay are somewhat unfortunately J situated as regards communication with Wellington, ip order to visit ' which place the residents of these I provinces have to waste more time than if they went from Auckland. The new service would be a very great convenience, and it is to be hoped that it will be possible to inaugurate it, but the Department must not be blamed for refusing to put it into operation if a loss is to be incurred by doing so.