RAILWAY MATTERS.

Otaki Mail, 29 September 1922, Page 3

RAILWAY MATTERS.

Air Field (Otaki) has asked the Alinistcr of Railways—(l) When does he intend to supply information, asked for some time back by the member for Otaki, as to the points from which the mileage on the Alanawutu line is calculated? (2) Whether he will give his consent to an independent measurement, if considered necessary, of the distances on this line of railway for the purpose of arriving at accuracy, and readjustment of fares and freights, if the same should be found to exceed those allowed by the Railway Regulations'? (3) Whether he will give facilities for testing in a competent Court of law the correctness or otherwise of the charges made between Wellington and Johnsonvillo, and possibly other stations?

Tho Hon. Air Guthrie (Minister of Railways) has replied: Further iqvestigations arc at present being made in connection with this matter, and the information asked for will be furnished as soon as the inquiries have been completed. EXTENSION OF TRAIN SERVICE. Mr Field (Otaki) has asked the Atinistcr of Railways, whether, in cases where the Railway Department declines to furnish an additional or improved service—whether in the form of an additional train, the extension of a suburban service, or otherwise —he will be prepared to grant such service on being supplied with a satisfactory written guarantee from persons of undoubted financial stability that such service will furnish the Railway Department with a substantial net increase of revenue?

1 The lion. Air Guthrie (Minister of Railways) has replied: The RailwayDepartment is at all times prepared to provide any train services that the users of the railways ore prepared to pay for. but it cannot undertake to provide additional services which neithe the existing nor the prospective business would justify. The existing suburban services arc run at a considerable loss, and the same may be said of a number of other country services. The Department is prepared to grant any additional service that persons of undoubted financial stability are prepared to pay for, provided the guarantors deposit a sum sufficient to pay for the services for which they ask. calculated at the regular tariff rate, and to refund to the guarantors the amount of their guarantee in cases where the earnings of the trains equal the amount of guarantee, or. where they fall short of the guarantee, an amount equal to the earning’s of the train. The regulations provide that any person may obtain special trains on payment of a guarantee at the rates fixed by the tariff. No alteration can be made in this arrangement.