The Dominion MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1915. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND VOTE-CATCHING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2583, 4 October 1915, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1915. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND VOTE-CATCHING

The most interesting feature of the Railway Statement laid before Parliament on Friday evening last is the attaohed report of the General Manager of R-sfilways, and more particularly that portion of the report relating to- tno construction of new lines. Mr. Hiley puts his finger on the weak spot of the railway construction policy of this country, and suggests a remedy. It is not the first time that the General Manager has drawn attention to the matter, but it is none the less important on that account. For years past' tho policy pursued in New Zealand in regard to the authorisation of new railways has been of a haphazard nature, and at least as much concern, ha-s been shown the political effect of the authorisations as the extent to which the proposed new lines are likely to prove profitable investments for the country; Moreover, instead of concentrating the expenditure of the available money oil a few of the more urgently necessary lines and pushing them forward to completion as rapidly as possible, the money is spread over a large'number of lines, all of which in consequence drag slowly on in an unfinished state. One consequence of this is that a great deal more money is lying idle and unproductive in uncompleted lines than would be the case if the whole of the resources available was concentrated oh a few lines.

Tho point which Mr. Hiley stresses, however, is that atj the present time the construction of new lines is undertaken without, any consultation with tho Railway Department, and in consequence the country is committed to tho expenditure on no 'other official estimate than tho Public Works Engineer's estimate of tho cost of construction. "The Department which will ultimately take over and work v the new railway," Mr. Hiley points out, "is not consulted as to the route, grades, and alignment, nor aro the plans submitted to it before the new line is commenced. No estimate is obtained from the Railway Department as to the cost of building the additional rolling-stock required. No estimate is made of the annual cost' in tho shape of working expenses, and ,no figures aro prepared by the Railway. Department as to the probable revenue from the proposed line, therefore no reliable calculation can be made as to whether the net revenue will represent a profit or a loss." ; This condition of things may appear incredible to tho ordinary man of business accustomed to look at all sides of a business proposition before sinking fresh capital in it, but unfortunately political considerations and business principles do not always harmonise. The General Manager of our Railways suggests that in future no new railway line shall be authorised until the Government has first obtained a detailed report from (1) the Chief Engineer for railway construction as to the estimated cost of construction, (2) tho Chief Mcchanic&l Engineer as to the estimated cost of the construction of rolling-stock, (3) estimates from the General Manager of Railways as to the working expenses, probable revenue, and the total estimated profit or loss on the line. No doubt at the present time a certain amount of information on these points is gathered together before a new line of railway is authorised, but what is desirable and necessary is that this information should be obtained from the best possible source. Equally Tmportant is tho necessity for a change from the present policy of distributing the money available for railway construction over a largo number of lines, to that of confining it to a few of .the more urgent undertakings, and hurrying them on the completion in the quickest possible time. .