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Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1924, Page 2

Tiikiik are indications that the Ha way Department is anxious to cati better lor freightage and traffic go

orally in the desire to make the railways pay. This is a policy for too long dormant, and we feel sure that there will be a general desire to cooperate on the part of those unofficial lodies which take an interest in such matters on behalf of trade and commerce, and are anxious to see the railways used to the best advantage

on the most economic lines. The rai ways are in existence. The capit:

cost has been incurred for their creation, and being there the railways should be utilised to the best advantage, certainly where competitive lines whether bv road or sea detracts from railway traffic, the State can well afford to compete with the opposition. The trains are required to run in any case, and running should meet opposition where at all serious. The Railway Commission now going through the country will no doubt advise in regard

to specific cases where opposition is harmful already, but other instances will arise as time goes on and the system of administration should lie elastic enough to meet such instances without requiring a royal commission to point the way to do so; on the account there will he general approval with the local action to support liefore the Commission the desire to decentralise the control of the tariff, and give district managers power to deal with local phases where traffic- can be conserved to the railway by musing the trade with a preferential rate which will undercut opposition. The railways are the people's and as such ciluiuld lie administered to the l>est public advantage. The railway offers facilities for quick and ready transit, and it is in the interests of all to see the State lines worked to the fullest point of utility. On that account trade and traffic generally should he drawn to the railways by an attractive tariff rate, and this poiev will he approved generally.

In regard to railway rates there is much discussion over the back loading Ireights on the Midland line. The request for this concession emanated from Christchurch, hut was opposed from Greymouth. The two camps have now

worked themselves up to a v very had frame of mind, and Home of the writers are falling each other names in the heat of the moment. Wc make no apology for supporting cheaper railway freights, however they are brought about, whether as hack loading rates, or as a result of private competition with the railways. Cheai>er freights will mean lessened costs and greater consumption, and so more trade. Anything which will tend to promote prosperity as legitimately as cheaper freights will do, has our support both in the interests of the people’s railways and the people themselves. As regards the back loading rate, this can only touch special commodities, but they arc commodities which would lie valuable for consumers on the Coast, and anything to help productivity here means all round advancement. "Winter feed for stock for instance, brought over at a bed-rock price, Would he very helpful to dairy farmers and pastoralists generally. So also would cheaper Heights for farming implements and sup-plies. These arc bulky goods a fleeted in cost more e less by transport charges, and any advantage in concessions would he helpful to the man on the land, who ill turn could produce better stock from a better farm. That would he an economic gain all round. The incidence of a back-loading freight, might piece some difficulty in defining, hut were the traffic managers to have a freer hand in the matter all cases could lie dealt with on their merits, which would he the fairest method in the end. Now that we have the railway between the two Coasts, it should he made the greatest use possible both as an earning power and as a utility server. Freight adjustments both ways would he possible on occasions, and we see no objection to that arrangement in the interests of all concerned. The railways were not built to prop up the trade of any single centre, but for the service of all, and the best service should he got out of the railways for Ibe iiimiv and not for the few.