THE RAILWAY AS BOOKSELLERS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 286, 2 May 1929, Page 4

THE RAILWAY AS BOOKSELLERS.

PRIOR to the General Elections of last year the present Prime Minister (the Rt. Hop. Sir Joseph Ward) and members of United Party devoted a good deal of time to criticising the Coates Administration for too much State interference in private business. It sounded all very well, but the announcement made the other day that tlje Railway Department intends to take over the bookstalls at the various stations when the leases expire in June is hardly consistent with the pro-election criticism. Some few weeks ago 'the Putaruru Bookstall lease expired, and tenders

were called for the lease of same. The calling of the tenders as far as the local people interested in this class of business was concerned left a lot to be desired, for instead of being advertised in the Press, notices re the tenders were posted up on the railway station, so that the local intending tenderers were not aware that the business was for lease. This is in passing and no reflection is intended on the local staff, it being known that these matters are arranged by headquarters.

The taking over of these stalls is direct interference with private business. We know that the Government is hard put to try and make the railways show a better balancesheet than' at present, but .in view of previous protestations the Department are adopting questionable methods of over coming the obstacle. Without entering into the ethics of Sunday excursions, it remains a fact that it is because these excursions apparently pay that they are run. During the blackberry season special “ blackberry ” trains are run on Sundays from Wellington to Kaitoke, and carrying the department’s present policy to a logical conclusion the Government may be expected to buy blackberry farms as an adjunct. The Railway Department are now caterers, fruiterers, confectioners, togaccon’sts and (shortly) booksellers. Why not add hotel bars and general provision stores so that those who patronise L he railways will he able to obtain all their wants without going outside the railway premises. As before stated it is a fact that this branch of the Government service is hard put to to make the railways show a greater return, but surely it *s not their policy to bolster up a non-paving concern by entering into competition with private enterprise. The real problem awaiting solution by the Railway Department is that of the ever extending opposition by motor vehicles, and if instead vf making the railway stations a sort of general emporiums an earnest attempt was made to cope with this problem, the Government would earn the thanks of the taxpayer. It has to be faced soon°” or later, and no one denies the difficulties involved.