PURCHASE OF IRISH RAILWAY'S BY THE GOVERNMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 169, 4 May 1871, Page 7

PURCHASE OF IRISH RAILWAY'S BY THE GOVERNMENT.

(From the " Cork Examiner.") We commend the following to our readers as suggesting the idea that the proper plan for ensuring the railways of New Zealand becoming a success and a benefit to the country, would bo to cede to wealthy companies the right to construct and work railways at an agreed on scale of charges, the railways to bo purchasable at any time by the New Zealand G-overnment at an agreed ou and annually decreasing price. This plan would place the construction of our railways into the hands of persons the best qualified, with whom inexperience, bungling, jobbery, fraud, and attempting without experience or scientific qualifications matters requiring the largest aiqount of both, would find no place : — At Belfast on February Gfcb, a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held in the Chamber for the purpose of considering a memorial on the subject of thojpurchase of Irish railways by rhs Government. Mr. James Hamilton, J.P., president of the Chamber, presided, and a large number of members wore in attendance. The chairman explained that the object of the meeting was to consider a memorial on the subject of the purchase of Irish railways, proposing an alterative scheme to that of the Mansion House, which he believed was being prepared for submission to the G-overnment. They did not approve of this scheme, chiefly on the ground that it proposed to vest the entire control of the railways in a body of 12 men, who would be entirely responsible, and who would have the power to levy a tax on property in Ireland in case the railways would not yield a certain return. The scheme they proposed provided for the purchase of the railways by the Government — the desirability and advantage of which he argued at great length — to be leased by them for working by public eom.pctil.ion, which would have all the advantage of competition without the evils of the present system of monopoly. The successful working of the lines in Belgium and Germany should bo considered to be a sufficient reason to induce the (xovormnont to adopt a similar system- for this country. Mr. Alexander John, .1. P., in moving the adoption of the memorial, which he explained at great length, pointed out that if a railway stock of twentysix, millions, which would do more than purchase the railways, were counted, a dividend on the £800,000 would be received for the working of the line : and as the tralEc la^t paid within a s;h;ill portion of £1. 000,000-, there would be £200,000 left, winch could go to the reduction of the affairs. Mr. J. J. Murphy seconded the adoption of the memorial, which was agreed to. and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Lord Lieutenant and present a memorial, with a view to the consideration of the scheme by the G-ovornment.