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Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1925, Page 2

Tiie invitation of the Railway Department to patronise the railway lines should secure a worthy response. The I new policy of going out to look for business, and endeavouring to encour- ! age it more and more, is being carried out with a good deal cf practical determination. It Ls a good time to make the appeal, for being the slack season of the year, the public have more time to study the invitation. The adjustment of freights it is expected will add revenue to the operations, and , though it has been intimated it is not possible to reduce passenger fares, certain concession rates for group ticket* trips are being offered, which, as the position is being realised, will induce more traffic. The railways are a great asset, as they are a necessary adjunct to the welfare of the country. It is to the advantage of the Dominion to see them in the fullest possible use, and the bent of the new management is to bring that to pass. No doubt at this stage, the Department will be considering the numbers of .returned empty trucks being railed hack from Canterbury to the Coast. To utilise the trucks in a revenue-making manner, a freight concession might lie tried. As it is the Coast to Canterbury trade is good, the volume of traffic in coal and timber being very substantial. If the return traffic could be made more remunerative the advantage to the railway receipts would he very acceptable. The matter is well worth considering, and there seems to be so much involved in it. that an experiment at least might be tried. This could be part of the

new policy in regard to which new precedents generally will have to he made. The advantage of cheaper freights to the Const on various staple commodities is apparent, and on that account also an experimental effort might he tried at least. Meantime there will be general commendation for the forward move of the Department.