RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9343, 12 January 1909, Page 5

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

MINISTER ADMITS A LOSS. Press Association. Wellington, January 11. Replying to-day to a deputation from residents along the Manawatu line, asking for increased facilities, especially in the way of additional trains, the Hon. Mr Millar made some remarks applicable to the railways of the Dominion at large. So far as the demand for an increased service on the Manawatu line was concerned the Minister said there would be no increase until the improvements now jn hand bad been effected., In thfe meantime, then? would be no great acceleration of speed, as at the present time the line was carrying up to its maximum capacity, and it had to be remembered that no timber was coming down from the Main Trunk country. He had laid down the principle that the suburban area was not to extend peyond twenty miles, and that was a wide area. He made it clear that he did not expect a train to pay every day, but if there was a loss over three months the whole public should not have to pay a dead loss for a small section of the community. He wanted to do as much as he could, while carefully considering the revenue of the country. He did not say that he could make the railways earn any more than they were now earning, but he would not make them lose any more than they were losing. * Sunday was a day of rest, and the staff had a right to be con sidered. He’was not in favour of encouraging Sunday trains to any great extent. He did not know of any inland Sunday service in New Zealand, excluding those to the shipping ports (with the exception of that toOtaki). He certainly knew of no train from the country into a city. Snob a service would not pay to commence, because people preferred, so he had always understood, to remain in the country. The men were hard worked now, and he did not wish to impose any additional burdens on them.