CHANGES IN THE RAILWAYS.

Shannon News, 5 February 1924, Page 4

CHANGES IN THE RAILWAYS.

IMPROVEMENTS AND CURTAILMENTS! FORESHADOWED. “The Government is fully alive to the need lor a level line between welling/ton and Paekalvariki,” said Mr W..H. Field. M.P., at the Horowhenua A. and P. Association smoke concert on Wednesday evening. It intends by tunnelling to provide this and' the Rimutaka incline will not be forgotten. I am of the opinion that you will hear at an early date that the work is to be taken in hand.' It will be a great improvement and do> much to meet the demand for a better service on the coast. There are, of course, engineering difficulties in, the way, but these can and will be overcome thou gb it will cost money to do so. These remarks were referred by a

“Chronicle” representative to the Lion. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, in the course of an interview yesterday; The Minister stated that the works Mr Field mentioned were part of a big scheme which the Minister of Railways had under consideration to improve tble whole of the railways of the North Island. It was intended to make changes in the system and to reorganise the Department. The whole position regarding the railways of the country was being reviewed. At the preseait time, the Minister having toured parts of the North Island, was making;. an inspection in Southland. The question of freight rates and better facilities for passengers were to* be re-opened. There as was wellknown, some lines which should never have been burilt, and the position regarding these would have to be considered. There was no intention of ! making a change in the relation of the Railway Department to the Government, but there would be as previously announced retirements in the staff. The action he discribed was necessitated by the competition of motor traffic which had so adversely affected the local bodies. However, this latter effect would be remedied by the pending Motor Transport Bill under which motors would have to pay a . contribution tp the upkeep of the roads. It was not that the Government'was bringing in _ the Bill because of the competition with the railways. On the contrary it had taken the matter up because .local bodies were incessantly coming for loans and grants to repair the roads. It would be easy to make a handsome profit on the railways if some one else maintained them like the roads were maintained for cars and lorries. Probably in-some places people would ha-v© to be content with a restricted service until such time as the demand justified a more complete on©.