MR. MILLAR ANSWERED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 923, 16 September 1910, Page 4

MR. MILLAR ANSWERED.

In another column we print a summary of the report which the Chief Commissioner of the New South Wales railways has prepared in answer to Mr; Mil'lar's attempt to persuade the public that he manages the . railways in this country better than the Australian Commissioners manage the systems under their carc. _ This report is the one thing required to complete the demolition of the Minister's obviously unsound contention! Nor can it bo denied that he thoroughly merited the severe handling which his' ease has received. Against the figures quoted by Mr. Miliar there arc. quoted figures which show that, so far from exploiting the public unfairly, as was implied by tho Minister who intends to make Foxton Harbour "go bung," the Commissioners'in New South Wales charge lower fares for Bhort dißtanccs, and

oven in cases for long distances. On the, long-distance journeys (Chrisl-church-Dunedin and Auckland-Wel-lington) Mr. Millak has to compotc with water carriage, and has therefore to charge a lower rate than on fcho short-distance trips, but even no he charges more for a second-class return fare for these two long journeys than is charged for the same service in New South Wales. The season ticket rates for distances up to 50 miles are very much cheaper in New South Wales, and the freights on grain, machinery, ores, coal, and general goods are lower excepting for the- very long distances. In point of speed and convenience the superiority of the New South Wales system is of course well-known. The Commissioner also disposes of Mk. Millar's assertions regarding "political interference" ( and the charging of maintenance to capital. Coming on top of the revelations regardingthe Minister's general attitude _ as shown in his' statements _ regarding the Foxton Harbour, this interesting report entrenches on the last remnants of foothold for the supporters of political, control of the railways. • The case for the sweeping away of that system is overwhelming.