DOMINION’S DRAWBACK

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4811, 16 February 1925, Page 4

DOMINION’S DRAWBACK

BAD RAILWAY SYSTEM.

• WILL BE PRIVATELY OWNED.”

The New Zealand railway system was criticised severely by Dr. Harrington B Graham, Professor of Surgery at Stanford University, California, in tlie course pl' an interview with a Lyttelton “Times” reporter. Dr. Graham is a member of tjie Industrial Relationships Committee of the San Francisco Commonwealth Club, and he is making unofficial inquiries into social and industrial mattesr in New Zealand. Generally, he is Impressed with the countiy and its prospects, and the problenns that are Causing trouble can, he thinks, be easily overcome. He sees a similarity between New Zealand and California, and says that the people have much in common. New Zeaalnd is the older country, but it has not yet had the trading opportunities that California has had. Both countries are white, but New Zealand is more fortunately situated in that a better type of immigrant is coming in. . “Your problems are fundamentally connected with your railroad system, and tney can all be solved, ’ said Dr. ■Graham. He went on to isay that the fiist mistake wais the building of narrow gauge tracks instead of standard ones. There was no comparison between tlie two, and hardly any comforts could be provided on the carriages which had to be run. on a narrow track. ■

"1 have a vision,” he said, “of the time when your railway system will be privately owned, and in place of the present railway cars there will.be comfortable diners and sleepers for long trips. Excursions will be run in between towms, and travelling generally facilitated and made more comfortable. Y r ou must have a good service if you are to attract the people. On the Southern Pacific Railway, if I want to go from San Francisco to Ltfs Angeles, a distance of 3'50 miles, for a game of week-end golf, I can catch the train on Saturday night,, have a good dinner on board and a comfortable bed, and arrive the next morning; nave my game and again that night. It is not the tourist traffic alone that supports the rail-; ways; it is the people of the country itsefl, and they should be encouraged to travel. It would cost a terrible amount of money to build a new railway system, but it would be money well spent. 1 am certain, the money could be raised overnight by a bond issue in England'or America.’’