RAILWAY MATTERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14100, 19 April 1920, Page 4

RAILWAY MATTERS.

(To the Editor.) vsir, —Not a week goes by but one meets with fresh examples of our worse than crude railway system. We pass over fust now the regularity with which the irain from Palmerston, scheduled to reach here at 10.5 p.m., arrives any t'im e from 10.30 to 2 a.m. A detailed recital of what actually happened to 12 to 15 passengers last Wednesday morning illustrates forcibly the marvellous svstem bolstered up by Messrs Hilev and McVillv, and extolled skyhmhby o ur worthy Premier, now Minister of Railways. Most of iis had hurried over breakfast and paid cab and motor fares to reach the station _ by 6.26. Those acquainted wfith tlic timerabl- will know that to reach any station beyond Wanganui the same day you must catch that train. Of coiu.se, by now we perfectly understand it is a mutter of supreme indifference to our Minister of Railways and liis-friends whether the proper connections are made that will enable you to get through. The morning started cold and ,-hillv. The engine-driver and his us- < i distant were ready to start, and stood patiently awaiting orders. A full head of steam hissed through the escape valve and lost itself in the clouds. The hands of the clock indicated 6.20, and vet no train in sight at our platform. Printed regulations re luggage state distinctly it will not be checked unless presented ah least fifteen minutes before. scheduled time of train starting. All live stock has to be pvopertly trucked by owners thirty minutes before schedule time. Everywhere the first rule is stricly adhered to. At JVlatserM.m the second rule is apparently winkmi at when found convenient for the benefit of owners. The personal and business interests nf passengers must be considered only secondary alongside of live stock. Someone had failed to load up four trucks of sheep, and until This was. done we had-the pleasure of cooling our heels for three-quarters of au hour after 6.20. Eventually the Irain steamed out at 7.5, and reached Woodville an hour behind time. The passengers at very station had suffered the same annoying wait. The connecting Dminevirke train had also to be detained until our arrival. It would be interesting to know if the owner or owners of the sheep that caused all this trouble were debited with the cost of running our engine the extra hour. Wo have no grudge against our local statioumaster —far from it—but the general public naturally look to him as accountable for such an extraordinary condition of things as obtained last Wednesday morning. Why does the Department countenance such treatment of the people? Any private fipm whose interests were so wantonly sacrificed would immediately dispense wfith the services of the guilty one, not only as a measure of punishment, but as jv warning to others. The time has gone by to expect members of the House to interest themselves on our behalf over these matters. Chambers of Commerce and. deputations have proved themselves of no help wfiiatcver in the way of stopping abuses, and departmental .egrquirie's like Royal Commissions are d. farce. The whole community would "be deeply indebted to you if, by means of your widely-read columns, you raised such a wave of just indigation as would shake this rotten railway system of ours to its foundations and lead to the placing of new. men in command who not only know their business, but have honesty and grit to do their duty. —T am, etc., TOILER. Masterton, April 19th, 1920.