LITTLE RIVER RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20497, 16 March 1932, Page 15

LITTLE RIVER RAILWAY.

COMMITTEE'S REPORT. SURVEY OP TRANSPORT SERVICES. An extensive survey of the transport services covering Bank, Peninsula is contained m the report of a committee representing the local bodies and Farmers' Union of Banks Peninsula, which was set up following tho Railway Boards proposal to close the Little River branch line because of its poor returns. The members of the committee were Messrs J. 0. Coop (chairman), L. Hay, E. W. Coop, G. Armstrong, and ■r. G. Armstrong. report-— IIOWiDS extractß from the In view of the early operation of the transport Act tho committee does not deem it advisable to suggest alterations to the passenger service at present. It is considered that the electric train service to Little River and the Akaroa motor passenger service which runs in conjunction, and conveys tho mails, is a service which fulfils the ideal of tho motor being a feeder for the railway. Thero are, however, a few matters which the committee feel should be looked into.' It is evident that school children comprise a good proportion of the passengers conveyed on the electric train to and from Christchurch. The committee suggest that it is unreasonable to expect- the railway to boar the full cost of this, and that the Education Department should be required to pay the Railway Department for the carriage of school children. It is furth; • suggested that the valno of all free railway passes issued to railway employees and other Government officials should be all paid for by tho Department issuing same. The committee are of opinion that the railway cannot expect successfully to competo with tho carriage of goods by sea, and it does not recommend the organising of any supplementary service for that purpose. At the same time it is desired to point out that the existing boat services are supplementary to the railway, inasmuch as the goods which are conveyed to Lyttelton from the bay? by sea are conveyed to Christchureh by rail and vice versa.

Increasing Volume of Goods. The main question to which the committee has given much careful thought is that of increasing the volume of goods and live stock for conveyance by rail on tho Little River lino. In the consideration of this tho committco is unanimously of the opinion that tho existing systems of transport of goods on Banks Peninsula cannot be expected to continue. For on the one hand a severe loss was suffered on tho operations of tha- Little Eiver railway last year, while on the other hand ratepayers have been required to contribute rates to maintain damage and wear to roads which were occasioned by motor-lorry services running in opposition to tho railway. Regarded in its correct aspect, the loss on the railway and the cost of motor-lorry damago done to the roads should be considered as a freight charge. It' is thought that the public generally should consider it in that light. It is further stressed that the loss occasioned by the railway and the cost of the damage and wear done to • roads by motor-lorries has to be borne by the taxpayer and ratepayer, and that it all has eventually to come from the farmer. The object should be therefore to have and maintain a transport- system convenient and sufficient for requirements which can be run at' no .loss and a minimum of cost to the ratepayer. The only conclusion is that a convenient and sufficient railway service supplemented by motor-lorry services operating to and from the railway would supply a completely satisfactory transport system for the Peninsula, and that if efforts were directed in making such a service a success it would also result in a direct saving to both taxpayer and ratepayer.

The Recommendations. In conclusion the committee stated:— Efforts should be directed towards obtaining for the railway the freights which are at' present being conveyed by road by means of motor-lorries. These freights appear to be the only extra business that is available. To obtain these freights a goods train and supplementary lorry services operating from the railway will require to be established on the lines suggested. Local bodies should be invited to co-operate and assist in diverting freights to the railway—prevention of tho overloading of motor-lorriea—seeing they are fully licensed and the classification of roads are suggested as a means of assistance. If tho efforts to establish a daily goods service as outlined should fail then it appears that the adoption of a flat rate or tl>e alteration of the railway tariff; increasing the tariff on goods and live stock which are at present being conveyed on a cheap basis and decreasing the tariffs on wool, merchandise, and similar freights, would be another means of reducing the present loss on the operation of the Little River line. . Finally, if the previous suggested efforts should fail, then special legislation protecting the railway against road traffic should be sought.

sent a clear picture of the state of affairs in this country. That is what. they did. . . . Continuing, the Prime Minister said that if due regard was not taken of the position there would be more empty factories and far more unemployed than at present. He repeated that many employers were being debarred ' from taking men on to-day because of the conditions existing under awardß. Labour members continued to criticise the Bill, and the short title was still under consideration when the House rose at midnight.

A DUNEDIN DISCUSSION. (VBBSS ASSOCIATION TELKOBAM.) DUNEDIN, March 15. A discussion took place in committee at the meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers' Association to-night on the amendments proposed m the Arbitration Bill now before Parliament. The trend of the discussion showed clearly that a large number of manufacturers are distinctly opposed to any legislation that will have the.effect of abolishing the Arbitration Court.