CORRESPONDENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2071, 27 January 1898, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Under no cucuiiitilauces whatever is the Editor responsible for matter contained in correspondence.]

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— One of the questions often being asked is this, “ What are the New Zealand Railways run fori And for whose benefit are they run V * Ostensibly they are for lt the people,” out of whose pockets the sinews of war have been provided. But in reality, it seems to me and many others to be a stalking horse for poaching on the preserves of the unfortunate tax-payers, in order to satisfy the ' demands of . the Liberal (save the mark) Government’s pet allies and supporters. The other day a trap was forwarded to me at Te Aroha station from Pukekohe, in which was the cushion for the seat and a bag of harness, secured to the side of the vehicle. The charges were £1 lie lid. Items r (1) Trap £1 8s odd, (2) cushion, (3) bag of harness 3s lid. Three items, which should eertainly be reduced to the trap only, heavy charge though it be. The last two items being part of the first have no right, to be charged extra. I think, air, you will see by these prices, of what I shall designate sharp practice, that the railways are shunned as much as possible by would-be consigners in favour of a more equitable means, of transit. Loss of revenue means more taxation or borrowing. My case is only one of many.—l am, etc.

W. P. Gage Brown. Shaftesbury, Jan., 25th, 1898.