THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9990, 9 March 1910, Page 5

THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. MR MILLAR BELIEVES IN LIGHT h LINES. By Telegraph—Press Association. FEILDING, March 8. The Hon. J. A. Millar was to-day j taken by motor through Apiti, I Rangiwahia, and Waituna, a distance of one hundred miles. To a t deputation at Apiti, asking for rail-- , way extension, he said the policy of f the Government was to finish the , main lines first, such as the Gisborne- , Kotorua and Midland lines, and then , consider the branch lines. Prom what , he saw of the Apiti district he be- , lieved a line would pay, and he would advocate its construction. He thought a trial should be made with light lines for country district?. The Minister was banqueted to-night at Feilding by the Chamber of Commerce. In reply to the toast of his health he said he had received education that day, because his lot wa3 cast in the city and not in the country. He visited the district with the utmost pleasure. He was pleased to see such a large area of cauniry within the radius of one town. St ady development was going «n all over New Zealand, and he did not want to see booming in Dominion; which reacted on the country. In future he would show a little n.. re consideration for Feilding. Regarding the railways, he said it was an important department. Thirty millions were invested in it, and it required close attention. If a man was going to do his duty his policy was to endeavour to rtmember that the railways were intended to help the development of the country. The object of the State in owning the*railways was to run them for the benefit of the country, still those who had the use of the railways should pay for them. The f rst thing he had in view was to make the railways earn their o*n interest £3 16s per cent. When the corner was turned he intended to give back any* surplus by increased facilities, etc. Things had been done with the the past which were unremunerative. While dealing with these he would try iiotto* increase the cost of carrying produce sent to the Home market, and to prevent any undue increase on exportable products. He referred to the fact that previously the Railways Department decided to carry timber for fruit cases free in order to encourage the fruit industry. This had been abused, people carrying timber 375 miles free because they could get cases one penny cfceaper. That it was not going to last any longer. Wanganui had been criticising the Department regarding differential rating. He wanted to tell the Wanganui editors he was not going to make the whole people of New Zealand pay for the sake of the port of Wanganui. Speaking on coal freights, these, he said, should be as low as possible, because it was a necessary commodity. Speaking on stock trucks, he said the railways could nut be expected to keep trucks lying idle half the year to meet an abnormal demand in one district. He referred to the sheep fair.at Feilding, where forty thousand sheep were handled, and said they would require four hundred trucks and ten locomotives to deal with so much stock, which it was impossible to do. ■ Fat~stock required trucks, so did stores, but they had to wait. He bad first got a telegram saying that two hundred trucks were wanted for Wanganui for stores. It was impossible to do it and to meet other demands. This year 1,210 trucks and ten locomotives were being built. His policy was to pay for new works, locomotives or trucks, which were added to the capital of the railways, and not to pay forthem. out of loan money. They were now relaying nearly one nundred miles per annum out of revenue. The railways were better to-day than they have ever been. The railway officials were anxious to do the best possible that they could for the people of New Zealand with the material at hand. He had received a letter from the dent of the Farmers Union of New ' Zealand complimenting the officials on the excellence ot their work. He would ipply to Parliament for money for railways, which has always been twelve months behind requirements. The revenue was now £304,000 more than last year, and expenditure this year would be reduced by 4 per cent, of what it was last year. The ratio of expenditure would be 69 per cent., possibly 68 this year, which compared favourably with other countries. Some time ago the Department knew that the coal trouble was brewing, and the Department stocked 40,000 tons of coal ready for the strike. There were 181 miles for railways more this year that last at a small increased cost. He did not anticipate this year paying the full rate of interest, but he would go closer to it than last year, and by. the end of next year he hoped to pay the full rate of interest. If he did that his life would not be spent in vain.