Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 9. 1895. Railway Excursions.

Manawatu Herald, 9 November 1895, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 9. 1895. Railway Excursions.

When the Gcmrnraenfc took over th management of the railways fnun the G 'inmispioner?, they gazetted al temtions in the scale of fares in si far as they related io school exclusions. There is no doubt but tha the fares then arranged were ver\ liberal and as a consequence largely taken advantage of. It appears now as though the Minister regretted the action then taken as on the 4th of October the General Manager forwarded acircular to the local school committee intimating that a different scale of fares had been gazetted ! It can readily be guessed that whenever' a Liberal Government makes any al teration it is always in their own favour, and so it is in this instance. Tho March faros permitted scholars to travel 25 miies for sixpence a bead, the October fares demand nine-

pence a hpad for a similar distance. Fifty per cent increase is nothing to the " working man " and bis family for whoso beni'fit these excursions were originally designed ! Up tc 50 miles thy March charges were onshilling a hemi, now they are on shilling and two pence, which is no; such an increase but if it was de-ir d to travel over SO miles one shilling and sixpence was the maximum i chargn, whereas now 100 miles is the limit of the lump sum which i.« also made two shillings. AU the circulars have beeil worde 1 mysteriously. The March one declared a price for " scholars over 15 j r ears of age, and adults in charge of children," which was liberally interpreted by the managers of theexcur sion to mean all who would under take to say they were looking after some small parcel of humanity. The Government, in many cases though otherwise, hence difficulties. In the latesb circular " fur your informa tiou " the following cases for " school- parties, factories, and friendly societies, »te. " are given. What does the eteetea mean ? Why are other organisations beeidns schools particularly mentioned ? Does it not seem reasonable to expect that any union of persons finding the necessary coin should bo allowed to take advantage of any concessions madion the public railways ? The question needs further ventilation, as we believe the excursions are good and add materially to the railway revenue.