OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 292, 13 June 1929, Page 4

OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE. While we are not concerned to excuse the late Government, nor to defend a system which, by some mysterious juggling, makes a railway deviation appear milk white before an election and jet black a couple of years later, still we would point out that by the very leakage of information (no matter whose the credit or debit may be) the new Ward policy of acceleration is far more under challenge than was the Coates policy of deviation two or three years ago. So far, however, Sir Joseph Ward has not seized the chance to expound the South Island Main Trunk position in the same way as he exploded the situation at Palmerston North. He has not accepted the unique challenge and couched lance against lance. In his sneeeh at Auckland he replies to South Islcnd Main Trunk criticisms by repeating his generalised defence of long-distance railways ; he has not taken hold of the alarming figures published and combated them in any specific manner. He is not lifted out of the wood by references to a report (Fav-Raven) with which he differs concerning an essential proviso (the train-ferry service), nor is he helped hv the fact (if it be a fact) that the official opinion that no new railway can pay “ was never emphasised in anv of the late Railway Board’s pubj lished reports, although the facts were probably pointed out by the chairman of the board to the then Minister of Railways.” All that Sir Joseph said in Auckland about revenue falls and leakages (to the Treasury deficit and the railway shortage he now adds the superannuation vacuum) emphasises the need for more light. The statesman who shewed hew money ought to he left in the ground at Palmerston North (perhaps for ten years, perhaps for ever! should show with at least equal clarity that the money ought not to

be left in the ground between Ward and Parnassus. He should inquire farther on the lines where challenge has led. And the public, now knowing what the ex-chief of the railways thinks, should also be told the responsible opinion of the present general manager.—Wellington Post.