THE RAILWAY CUT

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15882, 30 July 1919, Page 5

THE RAILWAY CUT

NEW RESTRICTIONS. CAN BRIDAL PARTIES TRAVEL? The new restrictions on railway travelling are causing considerable adverse comment, and it seems to bo a case of “getting worse before you are better.' - . Onr travelling reporter statee that a good deal of indignation is being expressed around the country in respect to further curtailment, and it is perfectly clear that stationmasters and guards are going to have a strenuous time in complying with the commands from headquarters. Indeed, stationmasters feel that tile Department has put a “nasty one” up against them, inasmuch as they are to accept responsibility for the number of people travelling. It is a responsibility that has no right to bo placed on any station master or railway official. If people are obliged to travel, the onus should be placed on them, and this could easily he done by means of an affidavit. As scores of travellers are gathered up at flag stations, the responsibility of refusing train accommodation in these cases will devolve upon the guard, and it is farcical to imagine any such official holding an inquiry on the station platform and examining the bona fides of would-be travellers before he allows the journey to be" undertaken. Such a course'would hold a train up for any length of time, and further prolong the agony of present-day travelling. One big question that the railway officials will have to solve, so far as the fair sex is concerned, is the question of marriage. Is a wedding in some far-off city a sufficient reason for the prospective bride and a coterie of bridesmaids to be allowed to travel ? This problem is to be faced right away, bnt we understand that several anxious bridee-to-be have had their fears set at rest in respect of their own particular cases.

The new position is full of interesting possibilities, and future developments will be keenly awaited.