RAIL AND MOTOR.

Southland Times, Issue 21096, 30 May 1930, Page 3

RAIL AND MOTOR.

To the Editor.

Sir, —Thinking over “Spiro Meliora’s” letter in to-day’s issue, my conclusion is that his schemes are not feasible and perhaps not altogether disinterested, so far as the railways and motors are concerned. An aspect of rail v. motor that has not presented itself to him is worthy of consideration. It must be recognized by any fair minded man that the Railway Department has not caught up with the neglect and depreciation of the war years, but that the present capable manager is going the right way about remedying matters despite destructive criticism. For many years the railways were built and run with the idea of opening up this country. Rates were kept low with that intention and only a Very low percentage on capital cost was required. Unfortunately political considerations influenced routes and construction, no allowance was made for depreciation and generally the Department was not run on a sound business basis. Notwithstanding, I contend that they have undoubtedly paid for themselves over and over again. Just consider for a moment what the development of this fair land would be had we not had railways.

The Coates Government when they started to make the railways pay should have written off 50 per cent, of the capital cost to give them a fair chance. This should now be done, rates reduced, fares brought down all round to the level of “market fares” and the whole outfit including construction handed over to Mr Sterling minus political control. Horse traffic to-day is negligible and in a few years time will be non-existent. The motors certainly do not pay for the damage they do to the roads. The Farmers’ Union resolutions do not go far enough, the motors should be taxed for the whole upkeep. Thus would the huge annual drain to America for petrol, etc., be curtailed, and the farmer afforded much needed relief on his rates and enabled to employ more labour. Motor traffic is not yet being run on a sound economic basis and the measures suggested by your correspondent would immediately mean higher fares. Just imagine where we would be to-day if we never had motors. We should have had the many millions that have been sent to' America spent on development, no unemployment problem and tliis would be the wealthiest country on the face of the globe, to say nothing of the many valuable lives saved.

During war time in London taxi cabs were run on coal gas, to evade petrol restrictions—owing to’, the impossibility of obtaining iron containers—it was carried in fabric envelopes on top of the cab, but this enterprise was quickly quashed by restrictions on the use of gas. Here is a field for research that may cut down our petrol bill. If the above measures were carried out poor old “Cockie” might be able to pay the interest on “Spero Meliora’s” leisurely canal scheme, then could he “hope for better things.”—l am, etc., “SAFETY FIRST.”