The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1915. OUR RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1915. OUR RAILWAYS.

Although the revenue and expenditure of the dominion's railway service is published periodically, there is always a certain amount of interest attaching to the annual statement of the Minister in charge of this department of the State's activity. More than ever is this the case at the present time when the finances of the country are under review, and war effects have become a factor. It is therefore most gratifying to find that the year's working of this national undertaking resulted in net earnings totalling £1,185,000, which is an increase of £22,000 over those for the preceding year, and it must bo admitted that, all things considered, the railways have done well, although there have been better records, as will be seen from the following table:

j revenue was some JJ22,UUO above that ! Tor the previous year, tlie percentage of earnings to cost was slightly less. If the public received greater advantages and facilities there would be little cause for complaint over this fluctuation, but there is little doubt that the increased cost has not been caused by concessions to the public; rather that it lias arisen from a. cause that was prevontible. It was at one time the policy of the Government to restrict the net earnings of the railways to about three per cent., and later this was raised a halt per cent, on cost of construction. Theoretically, the railways are run in the interests of the people, and for the development of the dominion's resources by means of cheap fares and freights, but of late years there has been a disposition to treat the railway system as a revenue earning maclrine pure and simple, without regard to how the people fare. There are a large number of grievances that have arisen under this new policy, and it will probably be generally admitted that the old order was more beneficial than the new. Now the public has vo bear the burden of additional fares and freight charges, and though they appear light there are cases where

the increase works out at fourpence in the skilling. It h war time, and travellers are prepared to grin and bear the extra eharge>s for the time being, but they will use the railways as little as they possibly can for short distances, i There is one matter that has been very properly brought forward by t!he general manager, Mr. Hiley, and that is the lack of co-ordination between the Government and the Working Railways Department as to new lines The subject is one that presents difficulties, because if the general manager is to be a factor in deciding whether or not a new line should be constructed, many districts Which badly need a line might have to go without for all time. A genera! manager would naturally consider that the main point was whether a new line would pay or not, whereas the chief point in the railway service is, as already stated, the development of the country. A line tlia-t did not seem to be a prospective profit-yielding undertaking might well by reason of its existence become a good paying consent. 'Die interests of the settlers should bo the first concern, while due precautions should be taken to prevent the waste ot public money on doubtful or hopeless undertakings It cannot be claimed that the present method of authorising railway construction and deciding on routes is satisfactory, as Taranaki can very well prove, and Mr. Hiley is quite justified in drawing attention to the matter, but the remedy is not easy to formulate.

i'ear ended March. 1910 .... Net Percentage Revenue, to cost. £ £ s. d. .. 1,080,310 3 10 0 i mo ni n a i '\ lfll-2 .... liiia .... .. 1,210,013 3 lit 7 .. 1,205,303 4 (1 (1 1 1 i'.'i ant ■? 1 •> *! 1!) 14 11115 .... .. .. J.l&vuw :J iu 7 It will be sei n that, wliiU: lust vwir's