RAILWAY TIMETABLE.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1399, 31 May 1923, Page 5

RAILWAY TIMETABLE.

BETTER FACILITIES WANTED.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. Taking advantage of the visit of Mr Massey to Hamilton on Tuesday on the occasion of the opening of the Waikato Winter Show, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce organised a deputation to the Prime Minister to urge the necessity of a better railway time-table for the district. As a result there were, in addition to the Hamilton advocates, delegates from Auckland, with strong representatives from the districts between Frankton and Mercer. Very little interest was shown from the districts beyond Frankton, the King Country. Cambridge, and Thames-Rotorua sections being poorly represented. At a preliminary meeting the proposals were discussed, and the Ham-ilton-Auckland suggestions were of such a nature as to practically deprive the Main Trunk of any daylight services to the city. On it being shown that serious opposition would develop to these proposals, an arrangement was reached whereby new sendees would be advocated without interfering with the existing trains givingconnection between the south of Frankton and Auckland. Dater in the afternoon the delegates conferred with the Prime Minister. At the outset. Mr ,1. R. Tidd. president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, said that, those interested were deeply concerned at the poor system prevailing at present, particularly between Hamilton and Mercer. Air Massey corrected the 'impression that he was the .Minister of Railways. He was acting temporarily in the circumstances through the Minister ("Mr D. 11. Cuthrie) being indisposed. Mr Tidd stated that such an ‘important district .warranted a morning train to Auckland, leaving about 7 o’clock, and stopping at all stations Iwt ween Hamilton and Mercer, thence ;i non-stop run to Auckland. To Kauwhata. Rangiriri, Ohinewai. li.uni.ly, 1 a up: ri. and Ngarua.wti.hia centres '•rere supporting the request. A train from Hamilton to Auckland in the I i‘v< nitr. was also desirable, as at pres- j '•nl people who visited Hamilton in | 'lie afternoon could not depart, again tor Auckland until the 3.30 a.m. train next (lav. The trains which came into Frankton each evening from Cambridge. Thames, Rotorua, and King Country could he speeded up to make a connection with a fast train stopping at all stations between this point and Mercer, and thence a non-stop run to Auckland, which would be reached somewhere between 10 and 10.30 p.m. A long time had elapsed since there was any big alteration in the Limetable from Hamilton to Auckland, and the time was now ripe for the amendments outlined.

Mr Potter, of Te Kauwhata, in voicing support to the proposals, said that his district bad been previously agitating 'in this direction. The early morning train to Auckland would permit them to get back the same day. Mr Massey inquired if the reinstatement of the second express would meet the ease, it was off only temporariily, hut the new time-table would not permit it to stop at all stations. Mr Potter thought that if the present; 9.45 a.m. train from Frankton was started about 6.30 it might suit tihe requirements. By the present arrangement it only left travellers from his district an hour and a half in Auckland. which was 'insufficient.

Mr Morris, in bringing forward the claims of Ngaruawahia., pointed out that the preesnt service had been in vogue thirty years or more, and was not now meeting the requirements of Ngaruawahia and other growing districts.

Mr Bailey, of Huntly, endorsed the views of the previous and Mr Stewart, representing the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, advocated a fast train which would reach Auckland somewhere about 10 p.m. He asked would it not be possible to hold one of the expresses, which ran practically together in the summer from Rotorua and Thames, hack to a later hour. The question of reserved seats for a distance' less than 100 miles, the minimum under the present regulations. should also he rectified, as it inflicted an injustice on travellers to towns like Hamilton and Palmerston North.

Air Woodhall supported the improvements on helialf of the Commercial Travellers’ Association, and Mr Clinkard said the Rotorua Chamber was in sympathy. Air R. F. Bollard. M.P.. said that an improved service as suggested was a long time overdue, and the Government would provide it in the near future, he hoped.

Mr Massey agreed with Air Bollard that there was plenty of room for improvement to serve a town and district where marvellous growth and changes had taken place. A number of matters of great importance had been brought forward so far as the railway services were concerned and when the new Minister of Railways was appointed shortly he would recommend a readjustment of the time-table as he considered that such should be done. His knowledge of the district and what he had heard from the deputation on the subject would be valuable to him. to the Department, and to the new Minister when the latter took up his duties. In regard to reserving seats, it was very l'ikelv that 100 miles was too long, and he thought that a change should be made in that direction. The reinstatement of the second express would be another matter for consideration, at an early date.