Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1898. Excursion Trains.

Manawatu Herald, 29 March 1898, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1898. Excursion Trains.

It appears to ua that if our railway lines were worked by private companies the public would reap more benefit from them than they do as now run. We hasten however to say that we are not in favour of the control of the railways being parted with by the Government, nor do we view the management of the Manawatu railway as aiding our idea of the position. What we do desire is to see some attempt on the part of the Department to meet the wants of the community in special accommodation for special circumstances. We have lately had an example of the way how not to do it in the special train ran to the Cycling Club's Sports last week. The Department waa requested to run an excursion train from Palmerston at low fares and they agreed to do so, and did run one, on the Club giving a guarantee of £17. No one who is a taxpayer desires the country to los« by running trains on chance, but we' object to tho people beinj» asked to guarantee the Department a hand some profit, wkh tha chance of their making a greater one. It is n on3ensc to say that the cost of s-ndinga train 25 miles coats £17, for there are only the wages of the three men, cost of coal, proportionate charge for wear .and tear to find, and as tho proposers of such an excursion are not invited to participate in any profits beyond 4)17, it does serin balking business to make it impeia tive on them to secure the Depart tnent a certain profit, which a change in the weather, or other circum stances might cause to ba a loss to the applicants. It should ba the aim of any business to make the same attractive and profitable, and every inducement should be held out to organisers of amusements to use the railways where practicable. There must be a minimum sum as the cost of running a special train, and we think that that should be the only sum demanded from those asking for the concession, as it must be remembered that no special train would be asked for without a reasonable probability of its paying. The Department enters into no bargain with the applicants, whatever is received is retained, and they thus send out a train on a dead certainty of profit;. We are not asking that a train be sent at a loss, but we do hold that to increase the earnings of tha lines, special trains should not be made almost prohibitive. We shall be told that no one is obliged to order a special, nor are they, but the organisers of public gatherings are entitled to some consideration and their efforts help to very materially swell ihe takings of the railway?, and on that account they should be met in a liberal spirit when seeking co-operation from the Railway Department.