The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1920. LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1920. LIGHT RAILWAYS.

The deputation which waited on Mr. Massey last week to urge an amendment of the law in the direction of authorising the construction of light railways of less than 3ft. 6in. gauge, had a strong case to present for the consideration of the Government. One of the outstanding lessons of the war was the great aid to success the light railways proved. No one would doubt the severity of the test to which these lines were subjected in France, and Mr. Massey was in a position to express, from personal observation, the opinion that they helped in great measure to winning the war. It is equally clear that the Preirch authorities were quite alive to the important work these light lines could carry out in the process of rehabilitation of industries and! general reconstruction, for they decidedly objected to any of the railway material leaving the country, and, in the end, the British Government made a present to the French Government of all the material on French soil, where it will be of incalculable value. In the development of the Dominion, as well as for supplying the needs of the people in districts remote from the ordinary railway service, light lines would be of much service. esß.e.oially, ia yiew. p! jfcfeg a>

sence of roads fit to carry heavy traffic. One of the most forcible of the arguments in favor of light* lines is the great saving in the cost of construction and equipment. It was stated that the cost of the 3ft. 6in. gauge would be about onethird more than for the two-feet gauge, which has been in use for some years in India, Ceylon and Tasmania, one line in Tasmania carrying over 338,080 tons of freight per year. At Barsi (India), on a 2ft. Gin. gauge, goods trains consisting of locomotive, fifteen waggons, and a brake van, are run, the total weight of the train being 318 tons, while the passenger trains consist of ten thirdclass coaches and two composite coaches, carrying a total of 720 people, the length of the train being 519 feet, the actual carrying capacity of the narrow gauge per yard run of the latter line being nearly double in proportion to that of the main lines. The flexibility of the narrow gauge line enables it to make curves' and detours around obstacles, and to take easier gradients up hills, which would be impossible in the case of the standard line. Obviously these light lines can readily run alongside ordinary highways, easily following the convolutions of the road, without infringing too much on its available width, while, it is possible to "box in" the working parts of the engines, so as to minimise the effect on spirited animals. The greatly lower price of construction and equipment needs a proportionately less revenue to make the line pay. One of the projects brought before the Premier by a member of the deputation was a line from Hamilton to Raglan, which would tap a large and valuable deposit of limestone as well as timber; while another proposal was for a line at Motuere (Nelson) for the carriage of fruit. There are many other districts in the Dominion (the Mokau for one) where fight railways would be a great boon. If it were pdssible to provide 'every district with a tar-sealed road Whereon motor traffic could be run, there would not be such an urgent need for light railways, but the requisite metal is not available in most cases, and the coßt of transporting it is prohibitive. It would seem, therefore, that light railways would to a large extent solve the roading problem in the back districts, facilitate development, and prove an appreciable factor in advancing the welfare of the settlers and the prosperity of the country. It should be clearly understood that such lines can only be utilised in a restricted sense, and must not be regarded as ordinary railways, but as local means of transport. Mr. Massey made a definite promise that an amendment to the law in the direction asked for would be incorporated in a Billto be submitted to Parliament this session,'and this good news was received by a deputation , with lively satisfaction. Much, however, depends on the question of finance and the manner in which light lines are to be run. It may be assumed thatf at least a portion of the capital cost will have to be raised by the local bodies interested in each light line, though if the proper steps are taken as to construction the outlay would be reduced to the 'lowest possible figure. Mr. Massey warned the deputation not to expect a two feet gauge line do the work of a 3ft. 6in. railway, but if the light lines in New Zealand are as sucr cessful as in India and other places there will be no occasion to complain. Had the Government acted with promptitude, they might have been able to acquire enough small engines in Britain at the close of the war to satisfy the immediate requirements for light lines in the Dominion, but there were, when the last Home files came to hand, still a number on. sale. If the Government is* in earnest over the provision of light railways no time should be lost in getting possession of the requisite material, but it may be advisable in the first instance to settle whether the gauge should-be two feet or two feet six inches. Apparently the latter would be the more satisfactory, though the former may fit in better with the routes that will have to be followed. It is satisfactory to'know that a move is to be made, and the details may be left to the decision of the authorities.