The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1912. THE COASTAL TRAFFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 189, 30 December 1912, Page 3

The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1912. THE COASTAL TRAFFIC.

Taranaki roads do not stand drv weather for long, accustomed as they are to a plontitude of moisture, anil already complaints are being made on every side of the "hard going" on some of the roads, and particularly on the Opmiake road, which, as pointed out by a correspondent elsewhere in this issue, is just now seriously feeling the effects of the heavy traction engine traffic. The correspondent suggests that teams should be substituted for the engines; otherwise there will soon be no road left. This is a matter for the attention of the local bodies concerned. Evidently the position is becoming acute, and action should not he delayed. Whatever is done, it can only be in the nature of a temporary expedient. Permanent relief can only come from putting the growing traffic in this closely settled country on rails. The Railway League are, organising and planning with this end in view, and are meeting with the support and cooperation that tliey deserve. The coastal people are quite ready to back their faith in the success of a railway

by providing the necessary guarantee, but just whether they should be called upon to give a guarantee is a matter upon which we have some doubt. If the undertaking of such an important work were dependent upon their giving the guarantee, and there was no alternative, it would be a different matter. We believe there is an alternative course, and an effective one at that. It is to form the district, say between New Plymouth and Opunake, into a railway district, just as the harbor district is l constituted, and endow it with similar power with regard to borrowing money, etc., with a board, appointed by the ratepayers, responsible for the management, . the Government, of course, to have the power of resumption at any time on equitable terms. Under such a scheme, the ratepayers would practically guarantee the line against loss, as they would have to make good any deficiency, but with the important difference to the ordinary guarantee that they would have a direct voice in the management of the lino. Such a scheme would be preferable to a private company undertaking the work. Legislative power would be needed, and we see no reason why it should not be made general, any district being permitted (within the limits of certain safeguards) to form itself into a railway district anil build railways. Tf this power were given, we would hear" vorv little- in future about useless, unprofitable or "political" railways, for it stands to reason that no district would construct a line that would mulct ratepayers' in a heavy annual loss, unless, of course, there were compensating savings and advantages, , A light, line from, say. New Plymouth to Opilnnkr. could be constructed and equipped for about £SOOO a mile, or £200,000 for the forty miles. The money should, when the financial market .is in a normal condition, cost not more than the harbor loan, viz., iy 2 per jcent., but even at 5 per cent, we are-satisfied-the railway would pay from its inception. The scheme requires elaboration, but the principle, we are sure, is sound, and its adoption by the Government would do a great deal for the development of the country and the relief ot its backbone —"the man on the land."