GOVERNMENT'S RAILWAY POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 14 June 1909, Page 5

GOVERNMENT'S RAILWAY POLICY.

.:::■■ ; ! : STATEMENT BY,HON; J. A. MILLAR. .■ , tp : ■a'■ v Auckland members that waited upon him ion ' Saturday in. connection'with the Auckland suburban train Minister for Railways (the ; .Hon. J.: A. Millar) said that, in considering 'v all requests' for. the;' increase of /railway, ser- .,: vices.the ■Government' was brought face ; to ;:-' face with; the position that if ..it } kept, on : .■ running that 1 did. not jiay. they, must /■fall /.back; upon ; the Consolidated ' Fund -to .make up. the balance. \ If the position was ■'to be that all losses' were to beimade-up v from this fund :it| should bo' distinctly, un- : Iderstoddj; They could, then ;.have ; trame ■if ; they so .desired, every hour, even, if they [■'■••'did not. pay more than two per cent, upon . their cost.",. "•'': ■"'•■' :.'•''. .'■ /';V, / '■:"'..: ;■■''■■■'",'.• :'- ■; Mr.' Massey remarked.. that: -the railways ■ in. the North Island as, a whole; paid over ■four ■■ ;; ; : l :',v'':/ _■.■•"•■:■■ .-, /;: Mr. Millar: The more branches/you have. the less will be the earning power. :'\ '■: ■ ''■'■ I ■; ; Mr. Massey: It -depends upon'the localities ■ ;.where .the.branches are.,'. ',: '■■'.. '■■■■. '■■'; '■'>.■'.■•,. .'. !Mr. Millar:"Supposing 1 that you run a . :train:from-Auckland to, Tauringa, it would .' decrease' the average-earning'powers' of .the ■ Auckjarid railways. \' ■.■ ■:; . • ':--■;.■ . : ; ; Mr. Massey. said -that for:a time- this -'might'be : 'so'::-AV : f '',"- :, ■-.':.■' '-■-■:■■ -:■'■■., ■ ••'■■• that he intended.; to .'.ask Cabinet;to:.reduce;the suburban;--area ':■■ to the ten miles radius from the cities; this ■-being the limit in force prior to thei adoption of the present 20-mile:limit. ' ': i v:v '.'.