RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1542, 23 May 1882, Page 3

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

TO TUE EDITOR. Sir, — I have seen so many complaints against the management of our railways that I am anxious to agitate the question once more through the medium of your paper in the hope that some of our members may take up the subject, and bring about the much needed reform. The pi osent managing powers do not seem to have minds comprehensive enough to cnteittiin the idea that the first object of a Government railway i& to benefit the district through which it runs, by opening up the country, thus enabling the land to be sold and settled. In this theie is collateral payment beyond the theodolite views of our managers. That the traffic be remunerative is a secondary consideration, as, if the line has the first effect the rest is sure to follow. The science of surveying may be all sufficient in the laying out of railways, but when once they are constructed it requires a different lot of faculties to successfully manage the traffic. A railway manager should have a large amount of experience, as well as the greatest business ability ; and even then should be assisted by a boaid of directors, as recommended by the Royal Commissioners. Do we not manage our harbours, highways, domains, education schemes, &c. in this manner, and why not onr railways ? Take a glance at the tariff (to &ay nothing of time table inconsistencies) — for instance, in the distance to Mercer — Take Class C, 43 miles, l!)s 4d ; ne\t 43 miles, to Hamilton, 4s Bd. Class D, 43 miles, 15b 3d; next 43 miles, to Hamilton, 2s fld. Class It,, 43 miles, i)s 10d ; next 43 miles, to Hamilton, 2b 4d. Now there must surely be some ratio by which this sapient manager regulates his rates. If he can carry goods the second 43 miles for the above low rates, surely the settlers about Tuakau, and from there to Mercer, are much overcharged, as it can hardly require five times the freight to bring them the first 43 miles that it does the second. Perhaps you or some of your correspondents will let me into the scale of proportion by which these wonderful results are arrived at. Has the manager got any interest in the favoured portion of the district? — I am, &c. Settleb. Tuakau, May 22nd, 18S2.

TO Till; EDITOB. Sir. — I forwarded a quantity of potatoes to the Hamilton station consigned to Auckland, to lie forwarded by goods train to-morrow (Tuesday). My carter informs me that the station-master is unable to forward them, having no covered waggon, "or even a tarpaulin." Comment is needless. — I am, &c, Jonx Kxox. Hamilton, May 22, 1882.