The Guardian (And Evening star,with which is in-Corporate the west coast Times.) THURSSDAY, AUGUST 23th. 1923 TRANSPORT PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening star,with which is inCorporate the west coast Times.) THURSSDAY, AUGUST 23th. 1923 TRANSPORT PROBLEM

In the Railways Statement, laid before Parliament, remarks the Dev minion, there is evidence that Mr Coates has given attention to some of the principal policy questions arising out of railway administration and management. Looking at the main facts ol the existing position, no one can doubt that the affairs of the Department need very careful handling. It is true that the financial results of last year were a great improvement on those of the preceding year. The net revenue represents a contribution oi a little over 3 per cent, to interest on tne capital invested, while the corresponding contribution in 1921-22 wa? little over 1 for cent. The improvement last year, however, was due chiefly to a reduction in expenditme. This was cut- down by £73-"),000 as compared with the previous year. The net increase in traffic for the year was on a comparatively small scale. At the same time maintenance work is still heavily in arrears and little progress lias been made as yet with the programme of improvements authorised in 1914. There is evidently much scope for enterprise, as well as for economy, in lifting the railway undertaking to a better position. Both the Minister and the General Manager make some intercsing observations on ta,-, increase in road-motor competition with the railways. It is pointed out. for instance, that the railways carry read metal for the repair of roads at a rate which involves a loss of £50.u00 per annum. The .suggestion apparently is that in this way and some' others the railways are unfairly handicapped intheir competition with road vehicles. This question, however, ia many-sided

1 ,; e carriage of road metal at less tliaa cst is in many eases a useful and legitimate contribution by the railways to the general, development of tae country. Where settlement and production in outlying areas are 1 encouraged the country, of course, bcnelits Xn addition, however, the railways tn these circumstances are likely to benefit by an inere-se in traffic. No doubt there are districts into which .rid metal should only- hi l carried at normally remunerative rates. A ride,

however, that road metal must never he carried except on these terms would react against the Department and the country generally, as well as against settlers in outlying districts. General though not. perhaps, absolute, approval may he given to the .Minister’s contention that in their legitimate field load-motors are -'tsupplemeniarv to, rather than competitive with, the railways. They should work in close touch with the railways and act as feeders thereto, thereby enabling rapid .and regular transport to be provided in districts where the construction of a -ailway would nut he justified.” All possible elfoi ts undoubtedly should he made to establish and develop motor services in preference to the construction of additional branch railways. The. General Manager in his report gives a list of twenty-four branch railways which are now being run at : rt aggregate annual loss of nearly a quarter of a million sterling. The list should, be held up ,-ts an example and warning of what to avoid. \\ ith a. reasonable expenditure oil roads, motor services in many areas will lie better and more efficient, than The services that could be provided on costly and non-paying braiu-h railways. At the same tune much may be done in *his way to build lip railway traffic, am! facilitate the greatly-needed and longdelayed improvement of the main railway system. The Minister mention? that the Department itself has under consideration proposals to obtain some motor vehicles for use in conjunction "ith the railway.-. It seems rather unlikely, however, that the Departme.it. with its highly centralised organisation, could conduct such services ec noinieallv. The best plan, no doubt, "ill be to encourage the establishmentof | rivate motor services in condition! l that "ill make them effective railway feeders. Good results should be obtained under the .Minister’s alternative Miggestion - that. contracts should he made with those now engaged in the motor-carrying trade to work in cooperation instead of in competition with the Department. It should greatly assist a praetieal handling of these probl.-ms that Mr Coates is not only in charge of the Railway Department, but is responsible for the administration of the main highways selierne.