Hallway Control.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1922, Page 3

Hallway Control.

“GOVERNMENT IIUNGLING.”

FARMERS’ tnx-JON CIRCULAR

At a meeting some time ago of the committee of the Auckland branch of the Farmers’ Union the following motion was passed:—“With a view to overcoming the financial deficit in New Zealand and benefiting the whole community bv extending railway facilities and reducing freights and fares, the New Zealand Government appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the advisability of selling the New Zealand railways; safeguarding the public by fixing reasonable maximum freights and fares as compared with other countries.”

The text of the motion was forwarded to the Prime Minister who replied that lie would place the matter before Cabinet.

All other branches are being circularised with a view to having a similar motion passed and forwarded to the Prime Minister, the idea being that the commission should consist partly of business men.

The circular strongly emphasises what is termed “Government mismanagement,” and points out that Government control of the railways in Britain and America proved a failure. It is contended that hv selling the railways to private firms abroad and stipulating in the sale the maximum rates for carrying produce and passengers: (1) New Zealand will largely pay off her national debt: (2) will

great lv relieve the present taxation burdens besides promoting industry and enterprise; (3) will reduce the freights and fares (to a normal world’s rate) to the farmers and public: (D will ensure to the community much better travelling conveniences and facilities besides attention and civility to the travelling public now seldom seen; (5) still more important is, it to the farmers and the taxpayers that the Now Zealand railways should be sold to private enterprise because the New Zealand Government civil service lias increased so that it has become a very serious menace to this country. It should lie reduced by every possible means, (a) Because by the selling ot the New Zealand railways you. in future relieve the taxpayer in this country from incurring the cost of further railway servants’ pensions: (b) because under present conditions each eleven of you are carrying the burden of one civil servant’s pay on your hack day and night: (e) because through the fact of the Government being the largest employer of labour the cost of work done in this colony has so increased as to have become highly fictitious and out of all proportion to its value when compared with the average throughout, the world. If you start in the country thus handicapped,' how can yon possibly hope to compete in the foreign markets with your produce when Europe becomes normal again? Sell the railways and the country starts a new and sound business life with very moderate taxation; (d) because through Government mismanagement tile railways which at present- are financially unsound mill are losing over £3OOO n day. are making a deficit which each of you are compelled to make up.