INCREASED TRAIN SERVICES

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22125, 20 November 1941, Page 4

INCREASED TRAIN SERVICES

Dunedin Advocates Rail Cars Not Advantageous To Timaru Encouraging Shopping In Christchurch Apprehension that a proposal from Dunedin, urging the provision of augmented railway services between Dunedin and Christchurch, would result in an increase in the number of Timaru people visittag Christchurch on shopping expeditions, to the detriment of their own town, was expressed by several speakers during a discussion at the meeting of the committee of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night. The Dunedin proposals were referred to the Transport and Emergency Committees with power to act.. The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce forwarded a copy of a letter which had been sent to the Hon. R. Semple. Minister of Railways, protesting against the disadvantages under which Dunedin suffered as regards train services between. Christchurch and Dunedin. The letter had been sent on behalf of four organisations—Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, Otago Employers’ Association and City of Dunedin Development Committee. It had been felt for some time that Dunedin was not receiving a railway service in accordance with its need, and in their opinion the existing services in the South Island were very much less than was necessary for modern requirements, both as regards passenger and goods traffic. It had been for that reason that after a meeting of the four bodies concerned, a letter had been sent to the Minister. As this matter was a vital one affecting the whole of the South Island, the chamber was Urged to give its utmost support to the request to the Minister. The South Canterbury Chamber might possibly have advantages to submit in addition to those in the Dunedin letter. Two Main Complaints In the letter to the Minister it was pointed out that there were two main complaints: “(a) No night service to Christchurch except on Sunday night, (b) No second express on Monday. With regard to the night service, the present service meant that if a Dunedin business man wished to transact business in Christchurch it was necessary to spend three days, one travelling to Christchurch, one day there and one day returning. If a day was required in Christchurch, either en route to Wellington or returning therefrom, four days were necessary. As there was no second express on Monday, business men were not able to attend to their correspondence and reply to any mall received on Monday morning, and there was no opportunity for dispatching mail. Those people travelling to Wellington had to make an early start and had a two hours’ wait in Christchurch before catching the steamer express, and passenger figures would demonstrate which of the two trains was the more popular. The suggestion of the joint committee was that both these disadvantages would be done away with if a rail car service operated from Dunedin to Christchurch and Christchurch to Dunedin on alternate nights from Mondays to Fridays, and if a rail can ran from Christchurch on the arrival of the steamer express on Sundays.” Mr G. H. Andrews said that the proposals would be of great benefit to Timaru. Mr A. R. Graham: We should support them very strongly. The position is that if you want to make a hurried visit to Christchurch it is almost compulsory to use a car, thereby conf suming petrol. Mr J. M. Jenkins: The Dunedin problem is not our problem. We should be very careful before we give wholehearted support to all the proposals. They could ask if the Railways Department intended to run rail cars on the main trunk line. He thought the Transport Committee could bring down a report on the subject. The Wednesday Train Mr A. E. S. Hanan: We have got to be mighty careful. You know the cry about the Wednesday train, and the amount of business done in Christchurch by Timaru people He added that they should be very careful about supporting any additional transport services to Christchurch. When they considered the number of empty shops in Stafford Street they did not want to advocate more trains. Mr A. M. Parker: Businesses in Timaru are suffering as a result of people travelling to Christchurch. The president (Mr W. Minehan): I do not think people will travel by the night train on a shopping expedition. Mr Hanan: Every £1 spent outside Timaru is damaging your own town. Mr Chittock: I would not like to see the Chamber do anything which would affect the business people of Timaru. On the motion of Messrs Jenkins and Minehan the matter was referred to the Transport and Emergency Committees with power to act.