ADVANTAGES OF THE RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 890, 7 March 1878, Page 3

ADVANTAGES OF THE RAILWAY.

Sib,— l will endeavor to point out the advantages to be derived by adopting tlie 'railway as a means of conveyance. . The most- prominent appear to be the following :— >By affording easier and cheaper means -of transport, and, consequently, enabling indu&trial products to be sent to rnorw distant markets. Railways also, enable home-producers to obtain higher prices from anti-local customers, and give a new stimulus to the exertions of the aforesaid homerproducers, causing fresh land to be brougnt under cultivation, and to be planted, or sown with more remunerative orops—^encouraging, equally, the extension of manufacturing, mining, and other important industries. In addition to the benefits already alluded to, there is another,' of pre-eminent importance, which railways render — and that, too, .gratuitously. Besides facilitating 1 and cheapening the conveyance of passengers and goods m all directions, they disneininate intelligence, Ifnowiedge^ and ideas of all sorts, and this latter service they perform without taxing the pecuniary reooureee. of the people. Hawn-eyed speculator (travelling Dyrailj will bprnadeaofltfainteu with the fact that the country opena new helds for ventures, and that goluneldo, copper mines, etc., nave hitnerto exiauju m hidden profusion, needing only the appliance**, >hich capitalists oan supply, cy snowuaturaireboui-pea beWe unthuugin, of. This i« a consideration which snouUi never be overlooked m cstiinacmg un.. importance of the radwayL 'Vi'b proviu... •' proper coi rim n'i'n 6d uun "between wider)"oeparatecl disCriocsi' t>aid Waßli.ugi,ou, "io Xhe first : duty of a iioverinnenk" x'his Auckland and-'Pumu* Railway* may ■* be classed: as .a political lino, the main purpose of whioii is to subserve a great colonial era; perhaps, to facilitate the transport of troops and mlhiary stores, and, tnereby, to' assist the txovemment m. obeying JNature s first law — that of selfpreservation - ; A great colonial undertaking— like the formation of main trunk , lrnus of railway-;— are especially calculated co elicit • disinterested zeal, and the individual who does not take a pride m any work, which they perceive to conduce to a great publio end, is not worth his salt; •xt is de&irable that railways should, not » only be suitable for their . special purposes, but that the public should have. the use of them on the cheapest .possible conditions,, whioh they,, • obviously,, oannot have if private, individuals, are permitted to change the routes, and. carry the lines where they please, at ruinous expense to ■ the country, 'Ibis Burely cannot be the' oeat arrangement, for, should private in•(ierests be allowed to gain-the ascendancy, vixe public will become the subject' ot mercenary- gain, which will be satisfied at die expense of the people generally. jUvidentiy, it were better, if possible, that, lor wiiatever gam is made at. the public expense, a tan 1 equivalent should be returned. Clearly, too, what is done for the public by individuals is not done for ohe public by, themselv.es. , Now, that uiupt be a very small public the members ox which are capable of. any combined administrative action, or must not, of neoessity, delegate all administrative funquions to some presiding- authority — m the natse of a parish to the vestry, m that of a town to the municipality, and m that of a. counuy to, the general government. What the vestry or municipality can do tor the parish or town, let it be done.' 'Here, evil is much more likely /than good to result from Government interference ; more particularly, with reference to railway routes and termini. Indeed, it is so satifactory so far that the Government have abdicated some fondly-cherished and time-honoured functions. Railway engineers are not to be hampered with a complex of red tape, but are' allowed the irea use of their faculties, and will not change railway routes to please interested parties — not even the Minister of Public Works. ' However, those who are now presiding ov^r the destinies of New Zealand may be trusted (when a great public object is m view) to aim straight at it, without overmuch tenderness for any individual interests that may stand m the way. — I am, etc., W. Sloanb. • • Te Awamutu, March 3, 1878.