MINISTERIAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 69, 28 April 1914, Page 8

MINISTERIAL.

HON. MR HERRIES'S VISIT. INSPECTING- THE RAILWAYS. The Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister of Railways) arrived, from Wellington this morning, and went south by the first express. He is accompanied by Mr E. T. Hiley, general manager of the New Zealand Eailways, and several other officers of the and is making a thorough examination of the railway system in the south. Mr Herries will be in Dunedin until May 8, .when he will leave for the north. He will visit Tokoraki, Ngapara, and Oamaru that day and. Hakataramea on the 9th. He will return to Christchurch on May 11 or 12, and will stay for two or three days, before proceeding to the West Coast. Speaking to a SUN representative this morning, Mr Herries said, that nothing had yet been done by the Railway Department with regard, to the providing of a daily train service to the West Coast. There have been urgent requests both from Christchurch and the Coast for a daily mail service, but the Post-master-General, although sympathetic, is unable to grant the request until the Railway Department can see its way to increase the train service. Mr Herries will look into the matter during his coming visit to the Coast, and will probably have an announcement to make later. Questioned with regard to the muchneeded improvements in the system of connection between the ferry steamer and the south express, Mr Herries said that the whole question of speeding-up of the South Island through service was being considered, and this matter would be dealt with in Mr Hiley's report, which will be ready for presentation to Parliament next session.

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher (Minister of Marine) also went south this morning. He will deliver a number of political addresses in the south, and "will return to Christchurch in about ten days.