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Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1922, Page 2

The railways of the country are costing the people a very great deal. The tariff hsa been increased considerably of lute: trains have been curtailed and the' public inconvenienced—-which is loss of time and money to the people. Still there is a deficit, and the people through the public funds have to make good the loss on the Department’s operations. This is not cheerful, particularly when we remember that the plant is steadily wearing out, and the renewals are said to he not equal to the requirements. The Acting Minister of Railways took credit to himself lately, that recent economies had resulted in the reduction of the da’ily loss from £4.000 to £3,000 per diem. This loss is still equal to a per capita deficit of 2ns to 30s of the population. It is a heavy burden on the part of a large transport business which should be paying its way. The country cannot afford this great loss, and it is little wonder that the business men of the Dominion, are sitting up and taking notice of the very serious drift. V. Commercial Travellers Association has discussed the matter in conference at | Christchurch. No body of men are better able to criticise railway matters j than the commercial men continually using the lines, and in touch with the i manner in which they are handled I Their condemnation is very thorough. It is clear the administration of the j present Government has signally failed, and the country is paying dearly for | the ba-d management which includes ; also a less convenient service for the people and a higher c-ost for travil"” i The failure is another example of the i Government administration being inJ competent to control the public sei- . vices.

The Commercial Travellers Conference i brought up the question of extending the period between licensing polls from ! three to nine years. This is a matter l which appears to have first beeh pubi licly promoted by the Westland Chamber of Commerce some months ago. The object then, as it seems to be | now by the commercial men, was in , the interests Of the travelling public to aid in securing improved accommodation. The proposal as circularised by the Chamber did not, as far as our memory serves meet with much favourable response. The Chambers to which the suggestion was referred viewed the subject as a. political one. It is, as all domestic questions are, colorably political, but it was not a partisan question as being for or against prohibition. The desire was onoe the people exercised the vote and pronounced in fa. vor or against prohibition, that there should he stability and security for the licensed person for a longer period in which he could model and conduct his business in a more satisfactory manner. Where it is a case of providing i increased accommodation, hotelkeepers | are naturally reluctant to do so under ] present conditions. Everything is so costly now, that thousands of pounds are involved in the matter of additions or extensions, so the proprietors on the three'years’ tenure hesitate to incur the expense and the travelling public are penalised. In the interests of the public the extension of the pe between polls is a reasonable request, and one which has gained a great deal of favour since being first suggested. The population of the country is increasing and it is manifest tiie hotel accommodation must grow, also, or the public convenience will suffer.