CHILDREN'S FARES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1870, 2 October 1913, Page 5

CHILDREN'S FARES.

REDUCTIONS SOUGHT,

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

CALLS ON REVENUE.

Reductions in children's railway fares with a view to benefiting people with families have been often suggested in tho House of Representatives during the last year or two, and yesterday the question was again raised by Mr. W. A. .Veitch, member for Wanganui, who asked the Minister of Railways whether, in view of the Railways Statement having disclosed the fact that the Railway Department had earned a profit of over 4 per cent, during tho last .financial year, he would at once grant substantial reductions in children's fares.

Tho Hon. W. H. Herries replied: "Although a return of just over 4 per cent, on tho capital invested was paid by the railways during the last financial year, tho cost of operating has an upward tendency, and in view of tho increases that have to be made ill tho wages of the railway staff, it is not considered desirable to diminish the revenue at tho present juncture by ro-. ducing fares and freights. Increasing the age at which children are carried tree would involve a loss of a very considerable amount of revenue to the Department, and in these circumstances I regret being unable to gicfc a favourable answer to thoquestion." Sir Joseph Ward said that he believed that directly and indirectly it would pay the country to grant the concession asked for. Probably no loss of revenue would bo entailed. He did not believe that a concession to Children would prevent necessary increases being given to the railway employees. Many families that now could not afford to travel to the seaside and elsewhere would do so if children's fares were reduced.

Standard of Earnings. Mr. W. A. Veitch contended that four per cent, was too much to expect the railways to pay. Some lines paid much less, with .the result that others had to pay a great dea.l more. He regretted that the three per cent, standard established by Sir Joseph Ward had been departed from.' The result, in his opinion, would be to impair the efficiency of the service. If they went back to the three per cent, policy the railways could be made immensely useful in developing the country generally.

Mr. L. M. Isitt supported the reduction of children's fares.

Mr. D. Buddo said that if less were charged for the children the parents would travql more frequently, so that probably tho concession would not result in any- loss of revenue. "More than four per cent." from the railways was getting a little beyond the lino. Three-quarters per cent, had beon a.dded to the revenue from the 'raihvavs during the last eleven years. 1 Mr. H. Atmore said that hero was a chance to make a real concesion to people who got £3 a week or less.

Mr. J. H. Bradney strongly urged the Minister to reconsider his decision. It was a recognised'-thing in the administration of all carrying concerns, he said, that liberal concessions should be made to children. He did not think that, the redaction in children's fares should apply to tho Main Trunk line, but it s'liould apply to all suburban lines.. . .

_ Mr. F. H. Smith said that the question of reducing children's fares was a very live one, and ho hoped soon to see tho concession made. Tho Minister's Position. The Hon. W. H. Merries said that tho railways liad been talked about that afternoon not harshly, .but in such a way as to almost suggest that it was ilio general desiro of 'members that the fares charged to children should bo reduced. His policy was, in the first instance, to come to terms with the railway servants, and make them a contented body, 'l'iiat done ho would be ablo to turn to the question of rates and fares, but lie could not burn the candle at both ends. Honourable gentlemen had talked glibly about reducing tho returns to 3 per cent, but if su:di a drop occurred would it not unfavourably impress the pcoplo from whom loans were obtained in .London? His standard was not 4 per cent. Itwas £3 los. per .cent. Last year was a lucky year. It contained two liasters tnd there was a phenomenal season. He hoped that there would bo another lucky year. The Auckland Exhibition might make uj> for the two liasters, but the results for the first quarter were not satisfactory.'' Tiio -smallpox epidemic had reduced tho amount of travelling. At ordinary times Maoris were great travellers, but thoy were not permitted to travel during the epidemic. The question of t'ho children had his earnest attention. He was not at all unsympathetic in the matter, but he had to look at tho revenue and to-the Railway servants. He 'hoped the House would support his proposals for the benefit of the first division, when ho brought them down.

Mr. G. A T . I'earce said that he believed in giving concession to pcoplo with families, but it was not a fair proposition to suggest that railway fares should be reduced. ■ It had to be remembered that there were large areas in New Zealand whero there were no railways at all.

' "Auntie," asked little Helen, "are you an Indian, or did you marry one?" "Gracious me, child, of course not!" said the young aunt. "AVhy do you ask such a question?" "Well," said ,the child, "I saw a lot of scalps on your dressingtable."

: London employs over 16,000 policemen to keep order, and most o! theia are on jiight duty. It costs nearly\.4l,2oo,ooo a year to main them.