TURNING THE TABLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9030, 21 February 1908, Page 4

TURNING THE TABLES.

It all depends upon the point of view whether Hansard is an advantage or disadvantage to the politician. It will be remembered that a few days ago the Premier, speaking in the North, laudeil the management of our railway?, and declaimed upon the want of patriotism of those who criticised it. Since then Mr Samuel Vaile, who for years has been vainlyurging the Government to make an experiment with what is known as the "zone Fystem" of fares for passengers, has been breaking a larice with Sir Jospeh Ward on the question of railway administration, and yesterday, through a contemporary, "Hansardised" the Premier to the apparent confounding of the head of the Government. Last session Mr Herries, as he has done on many occasions, condemned the system of management, and pointed out that the loss on the South Island trunk line was much greater than on the trunk system of the North Island, although far greater facilities had been given to the southern lines. Thi?, according to Hansard as cited by Mr Vaile, brought forth the retort of unworthy conduct on the part of Mr Herries in attempting to create an impression of favouritism to one island as against the other. Sir Joseph's argument in reply to Mr Herries was that the South Island line being olJer required more expenditure in the way of upkeep than the newer North Island lines, which, as they became older, would go through the same process as that of the southern lines. He contended that the cost of working the northern sections "may be expected in*?he near future to be in a very much higher ratio than the earnings." This is a statement which puzzles Mr Vaile, and will doubtless puzzle all who reflect upon the. matter. Mr Vaile wants to know Why,? and so will the public. Proceeding in his reply to Mr Herrie% the Premier aaid that when the whole of the sections of the North Island railways were completed, and when the maximum facilities were provided for handling and carrying traffic over them, and increased settlement brought about the expansion of industries and increased railway business, it would be found that the same causes which operated to bring about tha results in the South Island would operate to bring about similar results in the North Island. Mr Herrica's retort that "that is

not very encouraging" was very natural, most people will think. Mr Vaile's deduction from all this is that the Prime Minister "who has so long controlled our railways, and who has had more power and capital placed at his disposal than all his predecssors put together," has inferentially made a confession of failui'e in the department, and an admission that the railways arfa making a rapidly-increasing loss. Mr Vaile. in his letter to our contemporary, proceeds:—"l ask if it is not amazing to see a man in Sir Joseph's position stating clearly, distinctly, forcibly, repeatedly, that the more capital we invest in railway construction, the more we extend our mileage, the greater our transit facilities, the greater our population, trade and commerce, so also must the loss on our railways increase?" It s:ems clear that out of his own mouth the Premier is condemned when he condemns the .critics of our ' railway administration.