THE EXPRESS TRAINS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14262, 13 January 1920, Page 5

THE EXPRESS TRAINS

AUCKLAWD-FRANKTON passengers SEATS UN PRO t! I’ 15 AB bE. THE EFFICACY OF TIPPING. Considerable annoyanee and irritation lias for long been experienced by passengers from Auckland to Franklon by the night express owing to their inability to procure seats, even by booking (which is not permitted to a station earlier than Tc Awamnlu).

The mailer came up for discussion by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce last night, when a letter was read from Mr F. J. Cullen, who said it was impossible" to obtain a first-class seat Lo Frankton owing to the restrictions placed on reserves, which were not obtainable under 100 miles, notwithstanding the fact I hat the seals reserved by telegraph often remained vacant until occupied by the persons reserving them further along Hie line. In one case that came under his notice a reserved scat remained unoccupied as far as Ohakunc. By dint pf considerable trouble —greasing porters' palms etc., one may secure' one of the vacant seals. Recently as many as 2(5 seats remained vacant as far as Franklon, while many people remained standing the whole way. He had been told by the stationmaster that if Franklon passengers did not become less persistent steps would be taken lo prevent their using the express altogether. He had, in fact, been told by one Auckland official that the Franklon passengers were a “damned nuisance,” and would overrun the express and choke out Hie longdistance passengers. Mr A. Hyde said one could always get a seat by greasing - the hand of the porter. Mr Kirk described Ibis as a “rotten" state of affairs.

Mr Hyde: “It is a fact never the less. ’ ’

Mr Welling said there were usually plenty of vacant seats on the train, but they were labelled engaged. There were enough passengers on the 7.10 train nightly to warrant a special coach being put on. There was surely sufficient influence in Hamilton to ensure an improvement. Mr Hyde did riot see why passengers for Hamilton should have to book for Te Awamutu in order to reserve seats. Mr W. F. Mason thought they should not overlook the fact that a large num--ber of long-distance passengers travelled by the train, and it was not fair that these should be crowded out by a rush of passengers for Franklon.

It was decided to write lo the Department suggesting that passengers he allowed to book from Auckland to Frankton, and that a special coacti be put on for Frankton passengers.