THE LOCATION AND WORKING OF OUR RAILWAYS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 174, 17 April 1919, Page 7

THE LOCATION AND WORKING OF OUR RAILWAYS

THE FOLLY OF PAST METHODS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—The question of tho location and ultimate working of railways referred to in your sub-leader of this morning is a matter of such great importance that it may be urged with persistence. As a regular traveller on tne Wairnrapa railway I often wish that enc of the experiences necessary to qualify an engineer or surveyor to locato u railway lino should be that of driving an engine drawi'** a tully loaded train. The many thousand ■pounds a year in money, the useless wear and tear, the loss of time entailed on each traveller would have all been saved if responsible, competent engineers and busiiiM3 men had located the line. Very few people knew and a less number care to face a knowledge of the facts as related in the reixjra of responsible men regarding the Kimutaka railway, hence the importance of responsible journaiu like Thk Dominion taking a stand on tne matter. But us to the future, another concrete case as to location of a railway without reference to the ultimate cost, of working or efficiency in serviaj is the proposed railway to Martinboroiig'h. 'Sow, Martinborough as a centre where wealthproducing possibilities dc-mand transport tacilities, has lew equals in the Dominion. A railway has been talked of for ■10 years, and as" a result of the agitation or wire-pulling of rival politicians a line has been authorised and a route decided on. Bui the point I would urge on you and your reiukrs is the question whether the route chosen is tho oue that responsible business men and competent engineering and traffic advisers would choosn, their object being to serve the producer and consumer in Hie most efficient and economical manner. If I wr;re to indicate a different route to that chosen I should simply start a controversy between rival local parties, I Init this nlso emphasises the need for the I alteration of policy indicated by . you. With the hope that you will "follow on. - 1 am ' Pte " CHAS. E. DANIELI, Masterton, April 16, 1919.