THE NEW RAILWAY POLICY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9445, 15 May 1909, Page 5

THE NEW RAILWAY POLICY.

Replying to a quetsioa put to him at Christchurch, Mr Millar said: “i !am getting full returns made covering a period of yearn regarding all the branch lines in Sew Zealand. Wherever it is shown that there is a train service in excess cf what is proved by the actda l returns of such branches to he necessary the ocestion of reducing will be considered. The Department cannot continue raacicg five or six trains a week to any p ace where it is found tnat three * trains will amply cope with r : c whole traffic. As trade co any place increases the train service will be increased to deal with the business of the branch. We cannot offer facilities for people to travel if the result only entails a< heavy loss on the Department. Where braa-sh lines are showing over a perioce of years that they are earning a very small percentage on their cost it will bo necessary to lessen the loss on those lines by nocking time-taSles which will suit the aatnal trade of the district. At the same time, I do not expect, nor do I desire, that branch lines shall earn the same'rate cf interest that our main lines ought to earn, or even approximate the fell rate of interest, because a certain percentage must be allowed them for acting as'feeders to the main lino; but where branch lines are only showing half one per cent, with existing services it will be necessary to consider whether their working expenses will not have to be reduced. Whatever I do in reduction of trains I am prepared to show by actual figures over a space of years that there is justification for reduction or for refusal of requests for iacraesed accommodation. lam not going at it in a haphazard fashion. Taking the actual revenue and experdiure of lines I will be able to clearly justify my actions. Oases which seemed to me most urgent and were showing biggest losses have been dealt with first, and as each successive district return comes in it will be dealt witli I have no desire to taka away anything that has been granted if we can possibly avoid doing so. It is only in cases where very considerable loss has been shown that action will be taken.”