FUNCTION OF RAILWAYS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4509, 29 December 1922, Page 3

FUNCTION OF RAILWAYS.

Commenting on the 'announcement ‘ of minor reductions in fares on the British •-railways the “Westminster Gazette”-observed that they carry a load of capital which really represents nothing in the efficiency of the system? but upon which interest has to be-earned. “Railways have become machines for earning interest, and, even so, have not operated with conspicuous, success. Their ideal has nod been that of public service, but - of a return to theilr shareholders. T.hc latten is' a necessary ; incident in the success apd develop- ' ment of, railways, but it has been exalted to the first place in the railway mind. .There it has. cramped progress and made improvements difficult. We •need -tQ. get back to first, principles. The chief function of/a railway is to give.public service by carrying goods and passengers at the cheapest possible, ;rates and fares. The larger quantity of goods it carries .and the greater number of passengers the more effectively is it discharging the service for which it was created. A ■ railway cannot succeed by discouraging- traffic through high rates and fares’ It>may earn dividends in that way, blit it restricts its usefulness, which is the reason for its existence. A result of bhe system upon which our railways have been run is that > railway - managers lack imagination as’ to the larger opportunitic. that ■ - lie before them. A new type of mind is required in the business. The time' is ripe for big experiments in indue- ■ ing- the public to travel more. It might well prove that in taking risks with their , finances the rjailw'ays would be more nearly approaching the- ideal of adding to the material wealth andi progress of the country.”