Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1891. Our Railways.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 30 June 1891, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1891. Our Railways.

«- Ths Railway Commissioners in presenting tilth 1 annual report to Parliament draw attention to certain facts. The increase in tho passenger traffic they believe points to the success of the newly-introduced re-turn-tiokot system. The public have appreciated the concession and it is satisfactory to find that it has also been profitable. They assert that the acquisition of the Manawatu Company's line would conduce to the more profitable and convenient working of the Government lines comprised between Taranaki, Napier, and Wellington. However, iron., the reply of the Minister of Public "Works to a member in the House, it does not appear a . though the Government intended taking any action towards purchasing it. It also appears, that owing to the concessions made in the hours of work, the expenses of working the railways have increased -by~s&10;,000 per annum. The Commissioners report that the contract prices for nearly all stores have risen since the beginning of the year. The always-before-us Vaile system crops up in this repoit and is neatly disposed of. The Zone system is only appreciated in so far. as it consists in a reduction of fares.- It is merely the mechanical part of dealing with ticket issues and fares. 'I he Commissioners say that it would be of no practical moment to the public whether the lowered fares are computed on the mileage system, or on an irregular Zone system, or on one based on square roots, or on a complex .one. The reasonableness of passenger fares from various points of view must depend mainly upon the population, and their location in relation to the railways, and the current wages of the country. A further reduction in fares made without regard to our present population, ov to the current wages which are paid for working the railway ser~ vices would involve a reduced profit. Ihe Railway Presa, dated Ist May, 1891, seems to be in accord with our rommissioners, as it says: — "We are not admirers of the Zone system per ne ; it is at best a clumsy method of reducing fares. The comparative clearness of some of its charges, tends to repress, instead of encouraging travelling, this a very bad feature. Whether the distance they are eon*

vc'voil be long or short, p.ople are willing to pay the unit of coinage whatever.it may be - a- penny in the U cited Kingdom, fivo cents in America and Canada, &c, &c, but no more. When the unit is exceeded they act on a diametrically opposite principle, and are careful of their pockets to a fault. They even object to fares previously acknowledged to be cheap if they find out that their neighbours can travel still more cheaply. A fac simile of a Hun* garian Zone - ticket is printed in the White Book recently issued. It is a fearful and wonderful work of art, with enough letter-press upon it to make a sermon, 'lhe necessity for such an instrument is the condemnation of the system. We do not therefore think ally part of the marked increase in railway travelling is due to the elaborate arrangements of its parent, Mr Barros. The cheapening of conveyance has produced its usual result — increased receipts. This result follows, within certain limits, with mathematical certainty. The cheaper the charge, so long as it shows a fair profit on actual cost of carriage, the better it pays, The problem has been Woiked out over a"d over again in the postal service and on the omnibus and tram lines and always (vith the same result.