DRASTIC RETRENCHMENT INDEED!

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 274, 20 June 1888, Page 7

DRASTIC RETRENCHMENT INDEED !

Saturday's Auckland Star comments as follows on a leading article which appeared in last Thursday's Waikato Times, :— <- The spirit of retrenchment and self-denial in the matter of public expenditure which is abr<>al has, perhaps, never been more strikingly exemplified than in a proposition which is strongly advocated by the Waikato Times. The extraordinary proposition to which we would now direct attention is the voluntary suggestion by the representative newspaper in the district, of a tri-weekly service only for the whole of the Waikato. The Times states that there has been a growing feeling throughout the district lately that they have been ' over-trained," so to speak. Day after day engines are dragging empty carriages about the district, and a saving of many thousands per annum could be effected by knocking off some of the daily trips. We have given thi« phase of our position great consideration for some time back (says the Times), <md, in view of the existing- railway policy, which appears unalterable, ann the economic necessities of the country, we have coran to the conclusion that the running of daily and bi-daily trains to Waikato should be suspended. If the department cannot fill a train every day — and it is declared that it does not pay to run a tiain unless it is full — then they may succeed better by running a tri-weekly train service. A d;u\y .service from Auckland to lluntly is, no doubt, necessary, and warranted by the extent of the coal-mining industry in that district. Beyond that, to all points on the Waikato lines, a tri weekly passenger and bi-weekly traffic service would meet all the requirements of the present time. The question of mail communication, however, could be met by organising a trolly service from Huntly to Hamilton on the intervening day?, and thence to Te Awamutu, Cambridge, and Te Aroha respectively. Now, while we cannot too highly commend the spirit displayed in this proposal, and wish it were more universal, we think the settlers of Waikato would make a grievous mistake if they endorsed it. The loss of a daily train service will undoubtedly entail upon them very great disadvantage?, and some pecuniary loss. In making business visits to the city they will be subjected to not a little inconvenience and additional expense, and the district will be less favourably circumstanced as regards travellers and future settlers. Looking to the fact that this is now tin route to the Hot LakfS, and that the railway opens up a vast agricultural t^iritoiy, we do not consider that the discontinuance of a daily tiain would contribute to the permanent interests of either the Waikato or the railway itself.

I l<or tlio last twenty \eais there has I err daily pasr>en«>er communication witli AVu^ato, ami it would ho extraordinary indeed if the extensive and populous disti fas which are now tapped bv the line cannot support, such a service. As a matter of fact, the leporton [ working railways for .1887-88 shows a , better result than for the preceding year notwithstanding the length of nonpa) ing extensions that have been tacked on to the line, to the disadvantage of the settled districts. The net revere, npplieable to the payment of interest for ltitfiS, was £23,1)50 against £19,228 for 1887. lo stop the daily train would, we believe, operate mest disastrously upon the business interests of Waikato in every way. As regards the Hot Lakes t'-aftic, such a change woi Id revive the Tauranga route, travellers finding it more advantageDus to leave ! Auckland at night by steamer and reacn Rotorna the following night, than to i lose an extra day in Auckland. Citizens • who are in the habit of visiting Waikato would be similarly compelled to cm tail the number of their excursions, in consequence of the train service failing to fail in with their other engagements, and to settlers who have business j in town the delays would be very serious, i If good reason had been shown for the step, we would gladly support our contemporary in urging it upon the Department, but the proposal is clearly a retrogressive one that must, if adopted, prove very damaging to the agricultural and business interests of the North.'

She: ' And do you still squeeze up the ladies' feet in your country?' He: 'On the contrary, madam ! That is a Chinese custom. We in Japan always allow the ladies 1 feet to grow to quite their full size. Not that any would ever iiv.il ycins, madnm. ' (Is delighted with his neat little compliment.) Mrs Brown was endeavouring to console her young married daughter, who was weeping ever her husband's shortcomings. " What could I do, my deai ? I married you to Ernest because he swore he had the secret of making 1 you happy." 'True, m-m-mamma! It was a se-se-se-scciet, and he's k-k-k-k-kept itl" Simrtand precocious boy in a fiuit shop* " Give us a pen'orth o' apples, please-." Bland and dignified shopwoman : " I don't sell pennyworths of apples, my littlo hoy." Boy letires and presently reappears. Shop woman eyes him suspiciously. Boy . "Have you any apples at tuppence a pound, missus*?' The missus: "Yes." Boy: "Then give me half a pound, pleise." Was servod at once and departed tiiumphant.