RAILWAY REFORM.-MR WILLIAM CONYERS' OPINION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1952, 10 January 1885, Page 3

RAILWAY REFORM.-MR WILLIAM CONYERS' OPINION.

TO THE KDITOK. Silt,—By a late southern mail, lam in receipt of a letter from Mr W. Conyers, who was lately general manager of the South Island railways. In it he says, 1 think you would be well rece.ived in the South. No one, has taken up the question no broadly as you have done, and J feel sure if you get Ota go and Canterbury with yon the Government must give way to a- trial, after that I have no fear." After speaking of the present position, he says : —lf .something is not done soon, it means ruin to the country, which very few see." " I agree with Messrs Moody, Stwddart, and Edmonds, in their report on your system, and you may use my name to that effect." "In answer to the first query, 1 am of opinion that the number of passenger fares would be three times the present number — that is, an increase of 200 per cent. (I wrote yon this before, never having seen their report at the time.) 2. The average fares, which are now (including season tickets, and probably parcels, dogs, &c), only 2s <td, could not sink below Is. 3. Three passengers could be carried as cheaply as one. As tho trains now run — except on Saturdays—in the South, the carriages are nearly empty, except on that day, as all that possibly can pnt oil tlunr travelling to that day. With your system the traffic would be more, equable, so there need be no increase in expenses. The Saturday traffic will show you what cheap fares do, as these are the only days—except excursions—when return tickets at the old rates are issued." . . . This gentleman does not " hesitate to give " his " opinion." Perhaps Mr A. Swarbrick will be able to explain how it is that he and Mr T. D. Edmonds who must have had full access to tho " statistics " that were to " destroy every item of Mr Vaile's plan," should pronounce jso emphatically in its favour. It will be seen that I have now the written testimony of four gentlemen, all thoroughly trained and competent " railway men," who say that the effect of adopting the low scale of fares and system of railway management proposed by myself would be to add at least £200,000 to the year's railway revenue. All these gentlemen have held high official positions, and it is not likely they would sign their names to such a statement if they were not quite suro of their ground. In addition to those there are others of equal standing, who have examined my plans with care, and agree- with the four abovenamed gentlemen, but for tho present do not wish their names published.—l am, &c. Samuel Vailk.