A TRAVELLER’S WAIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2397, 12 January 1909, Page 5

A TRAVELLER’S WAIL.

DISCOMFORTS ON THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

STANDING ROOM ONLY

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, January 11

Very serious complaints continue to be ‘made about the discomforts of travelling on the Main Trunk railway, and apparently they are not without foundation. It is now quite evident that the construction of the sleeping cars lias been commenced about three months too late. Six sleepers are being made, but it may he February or March before they are finished, meantime the trains arc overcrowded and Jdie discomforts at the Ohakune and Taumaramti stopping places are sueli as to cause loud grumblings. A contributor is supplying the “Dominion.” .with a series of articles regarding tlic; actual happenings during thoCbristmas holidays,and Iris statements make somewhat "startling in such a Democratic country ,as New Zealand is supposed to be. The writer complains that, in a crowded train the Minister lor Justice (Hon. J. McGowan) should have a carriage to himself and bis secretaries. On the return journey, at Fraukton Junction, says the writer, “there was one first-class carriage, a fine new one, waiting in a siding off the platform. It was divided into two compartments, each capable of seating fifteen, persons, but one was marked “reserved.” A rush was made for the carriage and it was quickly filled. It turned out, howevor, that half of it,, containing scats, had been reserved for a commercial gentleman of Wellington in high favor with the Government who was travelling privately with a party of six. This gent entered the carriage and ordered everyone out, stating that he had paid for the whole carriage. He turned out men and women indiscriminately iand -then proceeded to occupy the fifteen available seats with his party of six. He even went so far as to order the guard to lock him in so that no common person could intrude, and this was actually done and passengers were thus prevented from passing through the train. Most of the passengers had to await the train from Auckland. Some few found seats in it but the majority had to. stand all the way to Ta umaranui,' a run of four and a half hours. I do not know by what' arrangement this gentleman was enabled to occupy the fifteen available seats with liis party of six while many passengers who had paid for seats were unable to obtain them. I notice by the regulations that tlio Department does not undertake to reserve carriages except for “specially authorised parties,” whatever that may mean. Authorised bv whom? Who lias the power to allow a mail who happens to bo rich or influential to monopolise- a whole carriage while others stand ? Whether this gentleman paid for fifteen seats or whether, as is most probable, he only paidl for seven, the system which allows one - man on a public railway service of a- limited capacity,, and at Christmas time, the only season when the workers of the country can. spare time to take a holiday, to occupy fih teen seats with seven passengers while many persons .just as .worthy, but., without the influence which this gentleman can bring to bear, can find nothing but standing-room, is, to s-ay-tlie least, utterly incompetent and unfitted to the needs of a democratic community.” ' '