RAILWAY CONCESSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 937, 3 October 1910, Page 4

RAILWAY CONCESSIONS.

» —— • \. MINISTEE PREFERS TO WAIT AND see.:' "'_ ..An interesting statement of policy was elioitcd by a deputation from Eotorua, which waited upon the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Eailways) on Saturday.' The deputation, which. consisted of Messrs. Raw (president of the Eotorua Chamber of Commerce), C. Crowther, Slorin, and Hicks, was introduced by Mr. W.D. S. Macdonald, M,P. ' A request was made to the Minister, that week-end tickets at reduced rates should be issued from the various :centres to the tourist resorts of, the Dominion, and particularly that such tickets should be made available at Auckland; and other centres for week-end trippers to The deputation also asked that excursion trainsshbuld be run in connection with the Eotorua; show on • February 22.. ■' ■

In the course of his' reply, Mr. Millar said that' when, he took charge of .tie railways they were not,.paying. , He had introduced a number.'of changes which had now practically brought the lines.to a paying point.' Before .making: any con-' cessions he.would prefer to wait till;the end of next .financial year' to see;what return; the railways were then making. He would then he :ina T better position .to state what concessions he could: give.and .still ■('work the lines, in .a; business-like manner.'. : He;was ■reluctant to .give: any concessions until it established that a fair basisof working hod been reached. The railways should return 3? per cent, on--their capital cost, and; whenever the return ex-" ceeded that figure he : would/give the surplus back ; to the people in~the way of; concessions. At the .present tinie .therewas no possibility'•';of giving : weekend. concessions beyond a certain distance; the population did not warTant.it.,;lf he recognised.'the .. right 'of; •agricultural societies .to have; special trains ...put -on for '■• 'their convenience hVwould •"■ be 'admitting; a ' dangerous;precedent. ; : . .There were" special circumstances'in the case, of the'-Eotorua Society,:..as-. in the.Eotorua.district .were.i'praotically.'on' .the. outskirts of civilisation,' and.were.attempting to establish R6torua'a.ia faffing, and :pastoral? district.■"■■'■He';could' riot, however, do'.more, for.: it: than had.-been .done in other cases." If the society- would; guarantee a special- train he .would fnri' one to - tap -.'■ a largo portion- of' Auckland Province.- -.■.'•",'■ -.' .* ;.':.'.'•'.■'■.' ..■■■.•.;.■■.•'-• .''■-'■

The deputation asked that a road should bo constructed at the back of the Eotorua Station to pivo access from the Whaka'rewarewo. side, and tho Minister promised to call for a report.