The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4. NEW ZEALAN RAILWAYS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 February 1914, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4. NEW ZEALAN RAILWAYS

is the State-owned railways of New Zealand, this dominion, possesses an asset that will increase in value and benefit as years follow years. A lot of loose talk is indulged in by surface philosopher;; about (lie failure of jXew Zealand railways to pay more than -).j or -I per cent per annum on cost of construction, but the fact remains that for them to pay more than -i.[ or 4 per cent per annum would be detrimental to the development of New Zealand- and therefore would act against her best interests. If the command were given to make the railways pay live or even ten per cent, the administrators of the service would be equal to tfre demand. The public would be unduly burdened by the increased fares and freights, but the requisite percentage would be got, beyond a doubt. This aspect of the ease is overlooked by most of the. commentators on railway affairs, but il is a most pertinent one to the main question. It is time the New Zealand railways and their iinaueial administration received a fairer judgment from the general public. lu the past there has been a disposition to condmen the railway service administration as a means of discrediting the Government of the day; but that method should be allowed to die, and so far as this small journal's ability goes there wilj be" persistent attempts made to place the true aspects of the case in clearer light than they have had hitherto. The present profitable and comprehensive case of the New Zealand railways is astounding to the unprejudiced observer of their development. It is only f)4 years since the first contract was let in Xew Zealand for the construction of a railway. As late as 1870 there were only 4(i miles of railway in operation, and the building up of the present great system- of these islands dates from I hat period. Some informative details of the latter stages of development are contained in a special article appearing in this year's official Year Book. Details (from this article) appear in another column of to-day's Chronicle, and they make interesting reading. In the light thus given, it becomes apparent that the present advantageous position of the New Zealand State Railway system is a credit to its executive officers and a testimony to the Helpful resources and intrinsic wealth of the dominion to which we have the privilege oi belonging.