POLITICS AT WORK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4544, 16 December 1930, Page 4

POLITICS AT WORK.

UiNtPAYING RAILWAY LINES. (Associated (Chambers of Commerce). [Probably no imore scathing indictment of political control of the Dominion’s railways could be found that the evidence concerning (branch lines which was unearthed (by the Commission that recently investigated this Department. No particular Government nor particular party can be held responsible for the doploraJble state of affairs discovered by the Commission, for they all appear to have been guilty at one time or another of promoting lines which had not the remotest prospect of paying their way, or serving any other national service. No doubt in certain eases additional railway lines abe required for opening- up new country and developing promising industries. Such lines may be expected to assist in promoting and assisting these promising- industries' from the start; but many branch lines which have been (built in this country are properly described as “political” entciiprise that never pay their way or Would he even remotely useful to the country. If such railway schemes had.been submitted to a business directorate it is certain they never would have been undertaken. To set out the details of each individual line of this character would eocupy more space than is available here; but those interested in the frightful waste of this description all-over the country may find any further information they require in the Commission’s report. Here it must suffice to say that on a trackage of 1,187 miles of development branch lines and isolated sections the total loss for the year (ended March 31, 1930 amounted to £254,132, and the nett loss (after 'allowing £67,375 as “feeder” value) to £186,758. If interest on the cost of construction is added, the loss reached the huge figure of £1761,091 fo'r the twelve months, or substantially more than three-quarters of a million for the year. It is true that Cabinet in the face of these startling facts has decided to accept some of the IC'ommission’s recommendations to abandon or curtail certain services; but under the present system, whatever the Government may be, it is certain as time goes on, and political and local pressure is brought to bear upon the politicians, these lines will be gradually heaped again upon the Ibadks of the taxpayers. 'There are, indeed, 'already indications that this peril is at our doors. The one safeguard against the recurrence of such a state of affairs lies in the substitution of independent business direction for political control.