Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Quarter of a Century.] THUIIHDAY, JULY 25, 1901. THAVELLERS REFRESHMENTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 6913, 25 July 1901, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Quarter of a Century.] THUIIHDAY, JULY 25, 1901. THAVELLERS REFRESHMENTS.

As we arc not in the habit of travelling, we can regard tlio question of travellers refreshments from an impartial standpoint, and simply imagine the creature eoniforts,iuclusive of the mild stimulant, which we should need if fate compelled us to take long journies by rail. It is expected that a refreshment-room will shortly be oponcd at Masterton, and this brings the question of travellers comforts to our own door. Of course, the man from Woodvillc, travelling down the line, with sharp-set appetite, and, on a warm day with a considerable thirst, does not want to wail till he arrives at Kaitokc to satisfy the one, or to allay the other, and from this point of view a refreshment room at the Masterton Station may be a convenience. The only doubt is as to whether this is the best means of supplying an obvious requirement. The most preferable remedy is a d : n"ig car, running from Woodvillc to Cross's Creek, and Mrc una. To drag such a

cir over the hill would he an absurdity, but there is absolutely no occasion to do this, for it could readily he detached at the foot of the ltimutaka for a return journey. We understand that the contingency of the expensive liimutaka haulage has been urged as an objection to tlicdming-car alternative, but this must only be a bogus excuse. The next best means of supplying travellers between Woodvillc and the liimutaka would he an intelligent Luncheon Basket system, such as is adopted in other countries, which, of course, are less progressive than New Zealand,

In thin colony, refreshment rooms arc only needed fit terminal stations and at junctions. A 111:111 arriving by a steamer or another line of railway, requires often 11 substantial meal, anil time in which to cat it. The live or ten minutes interval given at wayside refreshment rooms is n delusion mid a snare. The passenger, with the time limit sending him oil his head, cats anything he can clutch, and holds an Inquest afjenyji'ds on his own epigastric rcgiom to ascciiain what Ifeljas devoured. One traveller up north assured us, that on one occasion he bolted cenicntci! sawdust coated with coachincal, which was charged to him as a sandwich. This same man once gently I'eimiiwk'd a custodian in a refreshment room of certain regulations wljiclf control (he prices of certain commodities, When he heard the custodian subsequently warn (he Guard to keep an eye on a certain person who was evidently " off his nut," he was wry that ho had iiiadeany allusion to ] ''wsflj.ujions/-' The great reform to which. \ye respectfully call the attention of fjir Joseph Ward, is the expediency of placing al) refreshment rooms and all dining cars luide.r the supervision of tjic Tourist 'fellic ]>|),'irfiueiiti ( (ii!il lo ma/ic Mr llonnc insnecjor of all of them. No doubt rcfrcslmient rooius GQi;{rfy.utcd revenue to Sir Joseph Ward, but If by tfteir improvement and reorganisation they made travelling popular, they would, by .tttftacfingtpmists and inducing sluy-at-tows to go al/ro.iid, l>e still inorc remunerative to the ijtfjte. TJ|c question of railway refreshments is essentially a foi/rist 011 c and in .the viteresls of twists ii t)l)Oi)ld be relegated to the able and expert hands of Jfr JJffnno,

of n public examination. It appears to us Unit a right thing in being done in a | wrong inninicr. If any employer Jirwl ft grlcvancoiigainslaHcrvantofthirtyycarß' standing, iio would certainly giro him, in the first instance, an opportunity of explaining bin position and justifying iliiusclt, The Hoard, if il considers that Mr lito has misrepresented it, should have given him a reasonable ehanco of justifying himself beloro proceeding to the more offensive alternative of a public e.vimiiwilimi. Apparently Mr Leo is to receive Jcdburg justice,