CORRESPONDENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7802, 5 September 1903, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

RAILWAY EXCURSIONS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I agree with you in your editorial 1 remarks on the above subject in last night's i "Star." But why not go further, and sug- • gest to Mr T. E. Taylor that the t*ra«> of extension should be to the end of January, not a paltry extension of twelve days. I r am one of a number who have advocated some such scheme for, some years past, because I believe in giving every opportunity ' and inducement to the. people as a whole to use the railways. Let the people get into the country to see and admire ; and the way to do it is by cheap railway excursion fares during the sunntzner time. One. hears to--1 day a lot about town versus country, and the ' people preferring the town to "the country. De we wonder at it, when during the whole I summer tjme only a paltry few days are v- " r lowed for the issuing of excursion tickets. Hundreds of people in this place — let alone I other parts of the colony — do not get their ' summer vacation time till the end of January, or the beginning of February. WhYBecause tnat ia the time business g^ts easier, " and so they get their summer holidays. But t what good are the excursions for them? About three years ago, I think, a lady, on behalf j of a number of others in the city, asked the c 'Department for the "privilege of excurp " sion fares at the time I speak of above. They were unable to participate in the excursions at the time, owing to being unable £ to get their holidays just then. Their request was refused. Mind you, they are g colonists, and have to pay, either directly j or indirectly, f~ rates' and taxes. But x if sc?tae stranger comes along, who pays'' neither, he gets a "free pass" over all the Government railways. ' The lady did not. ask for a " free pass," but, I as a colonist, asked for a ''privilege." I\ 8 does seem strange that such a vast-differ-j ence should be macL* by the Railway Der partmeat between a colonist who pays rate* 9 and taxes and a visitor who does neither j that the latter should get the most use oi p the railways! In October, 1801, the Ministei of Railways (Sir J. G. Ward) "gtanted j concessions in fares to delegates attending the' proceedings at Dunedin in connection » with the union of the Presbyterians churches, to the wives and daughters oi , such, also to anyone who desired to travel j to Dunedint."* I believe this is all that is . requested by the people as a whole, for the f railways belong to the people. Last June, j, at Invercargill, the representatives of the British and '.Foreign Bible Society were enf tertained at luncheon, at the close of which f the Rev H. A. Raynes, M.4.., said: "He had » to thank the Government and the Minister of I Railways (Sir J. G. Ward) for their kind--3 ness in granting the party free passage over the New Zealand railways." Not so bad. The people only wish they could get the " privilege " of excursion tickets extesided to a fair and reasonable time, hot "free passage," over the New Zealand railways. ] believe if the railways were run on srimilai lines to the large drapery establishments it would encourage the peopie to go more intc the country, and, in all probability, ii might cause a desire for some of us ttvwii folk to settle jjro the country. And if ii did that, who would gainsay that that woule 1 not, to a certain extent, solve the problem oi the people preferring the town to. the, couna try, besides helping to open up the country's resources. — I am, etc., T D. LUMSDEN. Christchurch, September 5^