TORTURE CHAMBERS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1425, 10 November 1923, Page 6

TORTURE CHAMBERS.

NEW ZEALAND BAILWAY SLEEPERS. COMPARATIVE LUXURY IN AUSTRALIA. .Writing from Melbourne after a visit to Adelaide, Mr Walter Fuller, of Wellington, refers to railway travelling as follows: — “I have often heard reproaches heaped upon the New Zealand express trains by various actors and other trafellers, and after sampling the Australian railways, I can well nnderstand there is plenty of foundation for dissatisfaction. “I left for Adelaide last Monday, and I was agreeably surprised at the wonderful comfort that is afforded the traveller by the Victorian and South Australian railways. The railway is a very broad guage, consequently the carriages are most commodious and roomy. There is a splendid dining car attached to the train, and the meals and service are excellent, in fact equal to most firstclass hotels. As to the sleeping accommodation, all the cabins are tw,oberth, and are provided with real bedding, and I found it possible to have a good sleep. Under these conditions one could not help making a comparison with the torture chambers we have to endure when travelling from Wellington to Auckland. The sleeping cabins are provided with a wardrobe for each passenger, locker, and washbasin, and also soap for each person, with nice clean towels, and I was very much pleased to see that each bunk was provided with an electric reading lamp, At one end of the car there is a social smoking saloon provided with luxurious easy chairs so that one hardly desires to go to the sleeping compartment except to sleep. The other end of the carriage is a ladies’ boudoir, in which the male passengers are requested not to linger, when passing through. This boudoir is abundantly supplied with mirrors, and everything, I believe, which will make for the comfort of ladies during the journey. The saloon attendants are extremely courteous. and in the morning I was rather surprised to be awakened by the attendant to know if I would like tea and toast and hot water. Before alighting from the car, the attendant takes the precaution of wiping the handrail so that passengers may not soil their hands.

“At 10' o’clock at night I suspected that the train was travelling fast, and on making inquiries I was informed that we were at that time doing over 60 miles an hour. The journey was a most enjoyable experience. Of course, it being night time. I could not see much of _the Victorian try but next morning I had an opportunity of seeing South Australia at its best. There is no doubt South

Australia is a most beautiful country and after the recent rains that had fallen it looked at its very best. The 483 miles passed all too quickly. I am very much afraid if many New Zealand people travelled on this line there would be a move for better travelling conditions in New Zealand.”