MR. MILLAR'S "RAILWAY POLICY" BEGINNING TO TELL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1162, 24 June 1911, Page 3

MR. MILLAR'S "RAILWAY POLICY" BEGINNING TO TELL.

Sir,—The "Gazette" of Juno 1 contains tho railway returns of tho first four weeks of the current financial year. They are worthy of careful study, indeed demand il. They show how the Hon. J. A. .Millar is making our railways pay! The comparison is between the first four weeks of this financial year and tho corresponding period of last year. First, let me say that the returns for the first four weeks of this year show an increase in what is claimed as net revenue of .£17,115(1 and .£IG,62S saved in working expenses, together ,£33,678. This is, of course, boasted, of as very successful finance; but wait a little. This increase of revenuo was contributed bv tho North and South Islands as follow:—The North contributed ,£15,873 of this sum, .£10,093 was increased revenue, and .£5,777 was said to bo saved in working expenses. The South contributed .£17,805 of this only, _J:G95i was increased revenue, and £10,851 saved in working expenses. let us seo what we have paid for this increase. In "ordinary passengers" wo gained 197,279 fares; in season tickets, 811; in horses, 222; in carriages, 10; in dogs, 1075; in drays, 23; in calves, 53; thus in seven departments we made some gain. In the following departments we have 'Inst business:—ln parcels, 4,167; cattle, 2260; sheep, 185,033; pigs, 2850; chaff, lime, etc.. 4732 tons; wool, 21G tons; firewood, 1210 tons; timber, 2279; grain, 18,300 tons; merchandise, 1019 tons; minerals, .13,912 tons. Thus it will be seen that in 11 out of IS departments of railway business thero has been a heavy failing off in work (lone, and this is likely to increase largely This is only the first return of the financial year and for four weeks only. It would take too much of your valuable space to show where all this loss has occurred, but the following eompari- ' son of the North and South Island Main Trim* lines and branches will givo some idea :— • North. 1911. 1910. Increase. .Passengers 419,139 427,201 21,935 Parcels 41,912 43,999 920 Decrease. Drays and live stock ; . 237.95S 367,227 129,269 Goods 123,222 148,154 24,962 South. 1911. 1910. Increase. Passengers 460,173 310.573 149,300 Decrease. Parcels 49,177 53,175 3,998 Drays and live stock 433,220 487.4GS 51,213 Goods 212,353 230,073 19,700 . It will be seen that the North Island has been the most heavily hit. This is no doubt the result of the heavy differential rates imposed against her. It is a disgraceful exhibition. May I call attention to tho fact that a much larger payment has been extracted from its people for much less work done. —I am, etc., SAMUEL VAILE. Auckland, June 17, 1911.