OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 279, 14 March 1929, Page 4

OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. Completion of the commenced railway lines with the object of reducing unemployment was a good sounding slogan in a political campaign. To give effect to it when the heat of the hour is past becomes a matter for more serious consideration. The Prime Minister has announced his intention of completing the East Coast railway. He has yet to convince the country that it will pay. Of recent years the facts that many lines are not paying and that the Consolidated Fund has jto be taxed to make up the deficienty. that generally the railway service is in a parlous financial condition, that motor traffic is making a serious onslaught on to the railway returns, have been responsible for the diminution of the clamour to huiid railways. Motor traffic has brought with it the demand for good roads. And with, the improvement of roads follows the increase of motor traffic. The Government has yet to adjust the ratio' between the two forms of. , transport. Until this is done, te continue. to pile up the capital expenditure ou new railways may pMwe foolish add add to the weight s£ Os burden of taxpayers in. the future. At present it would seem that the railway department is hard premeC to meet the interest on capital already expended. Is the addition of fresh capital going to increase the revenue so that the new lines will

more than pay for themselves ? It is highly problematical. If the one end of the continuation or extension of railways is the relief of unemployment, cannot the same be attained by the expenditure of the money on roads, or in other ways? There are improvements needed to existing railways which will facilitate transport through a higher speed being possible, heavier loads carried, or making traffic more mobile. The duplication of a railway line is infinitely better than the construction of a new one. It entails less expense and no addition to running charges. New Zealand has been cursed with sufficient “ political railways ” in the past to warrant a suspension for the future. If there are to he “ political monuments ” it would be a refreshing departure to have “ political roads.” They would be probably less expensive and costly. —Morrinsville Star.