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Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1932, Page 4

Ik the latest issue of' the Railways Magazine, the general manager of railways, in a. plea for the assistance of the general public, says the railways maintain an open door, for all classes of traffic while providing, in the case of passengers, fares regulated to some extent in the interest? of nat.onal development, and in the case of freight, distinctive rates for similar weights based largely on the capacity of the respective commcdit.es to, bear the rate charged. Because this practice is of suoh long standing and haf conlei to be regarded as in th© nature of things, rather than as a definitely objective and fully conditioned policy, the full value of the national service performed by the railways is liable to be overlooked. The Department", has had no effective competition ■ ih passenger traffic over long distances. For intermediate distances competition has been vigorous because of certain ad- . vantages possessed by the smaller unit , in the matter of point-to-point traffic. In suburban traffic bhe Department hag provided extremely low ratl.iSi'for the transport of workers and season-ticket holders, thus relieving congestion in the cities and making possible much suburban settlement through, the provision of lower rates than could . be introduced by any other form t of transport, In both ‘ intermediate and suburban types of traffic road competitors have' 'left' the bulk traffo such as that developing at excursion. periods or at peak hours in suburban areas, to be o’.rr’ , ed at the cheap rates by the railways, but hnv n intercepted the more remunerative traffic. In this they.have.been aided by heavy public expenditure upon roads, which has reduced th'e operating oasts of such competitors. The cheapness of . railway suburban transport is indicated.by the fact that thte average amount received by the Department for each suburlan pa-ssen-. ge'r journey us dight’y Jc*s than 2sd. As the suburban arieias extend twenty miles or more from-the-principal cities the cheapness of tills servicfe manifest. The average charge for carrying a,, ton of direMit onic mile by. rail is only 2.38 d. If this were taken as a basis for calculating rates, one ton of goods wo' Id cost the owner 19s lOd for transporting a. distance of 109 miles. Lime'fot manuring farm lards is actually carried free,to the farmer for a limited mileage. Other farm products or requirements carried 100 miles for less than the general averi

age of 19a lOd p'ei' ton are such goods as firewood, etcf. at 9s 3d per , ton, chaff, hay, etc., at 12s 2d per ton, wheat fertilisers, etc.; at 14s lOd.p'.r ton, and New Zealand coal at 13s 7d to 15s 8d per ton (according to class).