The Daily News THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15. RAILWAY MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81888, 15 November 1906, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15. RAILWAY MATTERS.

The Geneial Manager of the New (6'a.and railways, Air T. Kunayne, last year attended toe Iniernational Railway Congress at Washington, llis repoii, punted a-- a Paiiiamenlary paper, is just lo hand, and although somewhat belated ha* still points of interest. It enab.es us to compare our in this depart-

11 cn( with that of other countries 1 and to sugge-t fuither points un ( Wuieh development may be looked 101. There aio sometimes heard culiuisms on our railway sjpt'en-l which strike us as unintelligent. Our carnages are compared with the luxutious compartments which distin-' guish the best services in France or the United States, That, however, is not, and -liould not be, the aim of oui authoiities. "Our fares and charges generally," says Mr konajne, "are very low, and, considering the high cost of stores and the rate of wages paid, the New Zealand railways are doing very well. More sumptuous carriages could be supplied, and other Aijcurit);, jsiifh as! they enjoy in other countries, but I contend that the management endeavors to provide comfortable travel- ] ling without extravagant);." Umj doubtedly cheap carriage is a more important matter than luxury, and on this point we think that Mr Runaync's remarks indicate the true policy for a young country.

It is interesting to note that Mr Ronayne has come to the conclusion that we arc progressing on right line'' in this country. There are several points to be noted. There is the question of the permanent way and 01 the type of engine in particular. After this comes the question of carriage of passengers and goods. Incidental to the-c are the questions as the use of electricity and automobiles and the provision of a provident fund. All these questions were discussed at the eongrc-s. We gather that the delegate agreed as to the value of creosoting sleepers especially where hard wood is not obtainable,. In view of the cost of creosote, Mr Ronayne advises its manufacture in New Zealand. With regard to locomotives, it appears we have adopted a typo to whii/n both American and English designs are tending. American engines lack the finish of those built in Great Bruain, although they can be, and sometimes are, turned out equal tothe best British aiticle. The Americans, however, do not pay any attention to durability, and in this connection Mr Ronayne notes that they maintain their engines in a far wutse condition than in England or New Zealand.

As to local manufacture, he seems to consider the perfect finish of the English manufacture unattainable. He notes thai in Canada rough, strong workmanship, with the essential parts well finished, is the rule, and lie considers that we should work on the same lines. He reports that in Aus cralia, the Victorian and South Australian manageis declaied that they could manufacture their 'own loco motives cheaper than tliey could impoit tlieni. The New Souih Wales authorities denied tin*, and Mr Ro nayne states that here under day wages ii has been found impossible to compete with the impurted artic e ill the mailer of price. It is possible. However, thai the price of the latter is nut always a fair test, for he speaks "t some engines being built for one of the Australian Governments at the Baldwin woiks at a price which coulo nut pay the manufacturer.

i'HE question of electrification is one ihat is .lkcy to play a gieat pan in our lailway puiicj 111 the luture. i\l r Kunayne is ot opinion tliai "in Acw Zealand, a counuy so well enUuwcU wilil \vaur power, tnc value i>i elcciriciiy tor winking tiio railwaycannot be over-estimated. ft 15 a question winch s.iould have eafi> cunsiiu'iatiuu 'and cut-in i<idj| uu winch cccinc cuncnt cuuld be obtained biiouul be bu equipped, tne u coinutivcs now u-'a oil ouch lines being utilised Oil hues winch must remain steam for ad time. lam assuming- mat eiectnc power wouldomy be used where cheap water-gcneialetl current would be available."

it' appeals from Mr Ronayne's notes that it costs more to convert lines to cicC'tical traction than it did to lay them clown 111 the lux p ace.. On the oher hand, it seems mat, especially mi lines where there is mucii tialhc, eicctrical tiactiun lends itse.f to considerable siinplihcauon of the service, and ivquiiea less supervision and maintenance. In tins connection, At' Konayne refers to the motor services in several paits of EntpfdJ with commendation. It is c.ear that uu local services where trailic is lignt the motor nain is much less costly ihan the ordinary lojumolive. is

is impossible to refer to al. the points 011 which Mr Konayne has mucn that is interesting to say. it is, for example, well to note his condemnation ot Ihe American system ot handling personal luggage, which led to much inconvenience even to the delegates to tile cougiess. Our system works nioie smooth ly. T'lie general conclusion to be derived from Mr Koreniaiks is that we arc making satistactory progress.