MR VAILE'S SCHEME OF RAILWAY REFORM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2177, 22 June 1886, Page 3

MR VAILE'S SCHEME OF RAILWAY REFORM.

The following letter will sufficiently explain itself :— Wellington, June flth, 188fi. Sin, — In compliance with your reque-t, I have tho honour to submit in writing a description of my proposals for altering the system of levying the fares and rates payable on the New Zealand railways. 1. I propose to abolish computing fares and rates by the mile. 2. T<> abolish all deferential rating. 3. In place of the present system I propose to reckon all fares and rates by stages in the following manner :—: — Staiting from any capital town (for' this purpose I treat every town having a population of not less than 0,000 as n capital town), I propose to place on every line running out of that town four ticket stations or stages, as near as may be .seven miles apart, and then, should there be a «tietch of country of fifty or m more milts not having a town of 2000 inhabitant", to make the stages fifty miles each. Outside each tovv n of 2000 inhabitants I propose to place one ijven-niile stage on ea^h line, and outside towns of 4000 two seven-mile stages ; towns of 6000, as lief oio stated, to bo treated as capital towns. 4. All fares and rates to b« of one uniform charge, from stage to stage, for the whole or any portiou of the distance. , r >. Passenger fares, to be changed (Jd. first and 4d. second class fur iho whole or any portion of a stage. 0. All parcels and goods rates to be reckoned in the same manner— th.rt N, one uniform chnrgo for thp whole or any poition of a stage ; but, as there are no statistics published on winch I could found a reliable estimate, I app unable to fix any scale of rateg; those I have previously quoted being, as I have many times said, merely suggestions. 7. From time to time, as the revenue would stand it, the fares and rates fimn stage to stage to be reduced to the lowest possible limit. 8. When the lines becotnn filled up with seven-mile stage?, and the levenue will admit of it, then I purpose that the outside seven-mile siago from each capital town shall be removed, then the noxt stage, and so on until the' stages are only between towns of 0,000 or moio inhabitants. By persistently following this plan- wo may ultimately see our way, as regards passengers, at any late, to making one faro only for any distance within the colony. Memouandum— l do not propose to fix the stages arbitiurily at the distances mentioned, but at the best collecting and distributing points neaiest to them. J>. That tho Government should be releived of its piescnt icsponsibility as carriers. 10. That an insurance department should be established in connection with tho Kailway Department, where, by payment of a small fee, either life limb, or goods could be insured. 11. That, in place of the present tickets, railway-stamps should be issued and sold by every licensed stamp-vendor. 12. That stamps of a different colour or description should be issued which would entitle the holder to pass from a station immediately preceding a ticket-station to the the next station beyond it, and thus save him from paying a double fare for a very abort journey: The same will apply to goods traffic. From the adoption of the proposed plan I should expect the following results to take place :— 1. The rapid settlement of the country ; 2. The creation of numerous inland towns ; 3. The doing away with the great evil of massing large numbeis of people in a few centres ; 4. A more even distribution of population and wealth ; 5. A more equitable adjustment of the burden of taxation ; (5. A very large increase in the railway revenue. I am, Sir, very faithfully yours, Samuel Vaile. E. Mitchelson, Fsq., M.H.R., Chairman, Bates and Charges Committee.

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[I'UESS ASSOCIATION.] London, June 18. Tick Hon. J. Uryce, Under-Secretary »>f Foreign Affaii*, states that M. de Ireycinet, the French Minister, has promised to supply the English Government with the details of the murder of French subject! in the New Hebrides, and also with details respecting the U»it of the warship Dive* to the Mauds. The pledges given by M. de Fieycinct aic of a reassuring nature. In tho House of Lords today, Earl Kiinbi-iley, Secretary of State for India, in reply to a qnextion put by the Marquis of Salisbury, .stated that Lord Lyons, the British Ajubasiador in Paris, yesterday haw AI. de Freycinet, French Preniioi, who stated ho had not been informed of the hoi.stinsr of tho French flag at the New Hebrides, but he had cabled on Wednesday last to the (Jovernor of New Caledonia, instructing him if tho hoisting of tho flag had been effected it should be taken down forthwith.

Melhoukxk, Juneiy. The Afrent-Gener.vl telegraphed to the (Joveiniuent that gi eat excitement is beinp manifested in England at the action of Fiance in reara.rd to the New Hebrides, and that the Press are almost unanimous in condemning French proceed ing*.

London, June 18. The Mornins P<>st of to-day states that M. do l'Veycinet, French Minister, has declared that the warship Dives has not been authorised to hoist the French flag at N«w Hnhridps.

Mklbourxk, June 10. It is reported heie to-day that the Fiench Government has sent instructions to the Government of New Caledonia that step* be taken to have the French flag at the New Hebrides hauled down without

ut?icty« Paris, Jnne 19. M. de Freycinet, Premier, in his interview with Lord Lyons on Thursday last, promised the British Ambassador that he (should be supplied with details of the outrapes which had been committed on French subjects in the New Hebrides. The newspaper Le Temps, in a leading article to-day, urges that a fresh arrangement be come to between England and Eiance regarding the New Hebrides.