NEW RAILWAY SCHEME

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1038, 31 July 1930, Page 7

NEW RAILWAY SCHEME

guaranteeing working COSTS branch LINE operations ** Press Association PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. Speaking In the Budget debate today, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. Vf. A. Veitch. said he admitted that the application of the amusement - tax was an unpleasant duty for the Government. It had been necessary, he said, to raise a large amount in additional taxation, and it would have been a serious matter to have attempted to raise it a ll in one ol * two Quarters. \fter all, at a time when money was urgently needed, it was not out of ulace -o ask for a contribution in the form of an amfusement-tax. Dealing with the railways, the Minister said he had found it would bo possible to remove most of the difficulties of those people who would be affected by the proposal to close down unpaying branch lines. As a result of deputations from the persons concerned. a scheme was being evolved of which a guarantee that there would be no loss in respect to the operating cost of branch lines if the service were continued would be the main feature. It would be possible for local bodies to give such a guarantee, and the result would be that the railway lines would receive transport business that had hitherto been given to motors. It was purely a matter of the persons concerned making the lines pay. They would not be asked to guarantee capital costs, which the Government would have to bear even if the lines closed down, but they would be called on to ensure that there was no loss on the maintenance and on the operating costs. EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

With regard to the employment of railwaymen. he said he hoped that conditions in the railway service would be altered so that it would be possible to employ a larger average number of men throughout the year, in preference- to engaging large numbers at rush times and having to dismiss many of them later. The Minister quoted figures to show the efficiency of the railway staff at the present time. He stated that last year, for every man in the service, 1,479 passengers and 401 tons of merchandise had been carried. During the last four years the average had been 1,488 passengers and 401 tons of merchandise. Comparing this with the pre-war period, he said the average a year from 1906 to 1910 was 1,254 passengers and 412 tons of merchandise a man. In answer to an Interjection, the Minister said: "Anyone who is acquainted with my record will know that I spent a lengthy period of my life In building up the conditions in the railway service, and I am not going to start now, in the evening of my life, to destroy that work.” Mr. Veitch added that he greatly regretted that the shortage of money had necessitated the dismissal of a number of employees, but he gave an assurance that he would do everything in his power for the workers in the railway service.

INTERFERENCE FROM MOTORS Mr. Veitch said that motor transport had not interfered with the railways to the extent that was popularly imagined. Actually, it had prevented the railways from expanding to the extent that had been anticipated, and if the railways were kept down to those services that were in existence before motor competition had been introduced, it would be found that the ■losses could be considerably decreased. The difficulties of the present day had largely been accentuated by the construction of branch lines where they were not necessary. Replying to the criticism that there had been a breach of faith in regard ,to the highways fund, the Minister said that as long aa the Government did not take from the Highways Board the proceeds of the original tax of fouron P«trol, the bargain made by J4r. Coates would have been mainThere had been no agreement tearing on any additional taxation «tat might be imposed on petrol. It had been necessary to obtain finances »or roading, and the Government had chosen the most equitable method of raising it. The motorists were the users of the roads. It was not desired to overburden the country ratepayers. ~r* r \ W. J. Poison (Independent—otratford): Half the tax will be paid py country ratepayers who are motor*lr - Veitch replied that half the cost oi maintaining the backblock roads would b© born© by city motorists. He t^at th© tax on petrol was n ® fairest method of raising money.