RAILWAY REFORM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2336, 30 June 1887, Page 2

RAILWAY REFORM.

TO THE EDITOR. Silt, —The more dispassionately and continually we sift our public grievances and bring the light of reason to bear on them, and the good will of an honest public to grapple with them, the better for the said cause and for ourselves. Applying this truism to Mr Yaile and his railway reform, there is not a person who is at all concerned in the public question, and has given it a careful consideration, but will admit that it contains a vast amount of truth, and is fraught with reasoning that commends that gentleman to a respectful hearing and an intellectual mind. ' As Mr Vaile is assailing a system with which the general public have no sympathy, and which even Mr Butler condemns, and with him almost every fanner of the country, we cannot but stand by Mr Vaile and thank him for taking suclva prominent part in showing up the inconsistencies of our present inis-management, its glaring blundering,and its tyrranny in ignoring our means and wants. Who after all have to pay dearly for such tyrannical public servants ? "Servants! indeed," I am sure they would mutter to themselves, if they happen to see these lines. " We," they will answer, " are masters of the position, and you will do our bidding, and keep your cattle and produce at home, and yourselves also, if our management does not suit you." This is the tone and the conduct of the general manager, and the district manager also. What they could do to grant facilities to the public if they liked, no one who has travelled half the world over can easily ignore. And the greatest part of the blundering on their part is to think that we know no better. The people of this colony are neither fools nor knaves. That does not imply that there are not some fools and some knaves, but I think they are the exception and the few. The public is sick and tired of the past railway mismanagement, and a reform is called for, by the most unmistakable voice of public opinion. MiMaxwell and Mr Hudson think they will escape from the storm, and ride it out. They are mistaken, for the Government that will back them will get no sympathy from the public. The thundering voice of public discontent will not cease roaring until the big cloud (Mr Maxwell) has disappeared in the sky, and drawn the little one (Mr Hudson) after him. They and their system are causing all the disturbance in this province, and until they are gone, let us cry, wo, wo. The only reason that has got any weight in it, and is urged against Mr Vaile's system is this : " Is our traffic sufficient to justify his sanguine expectations." " Will twice the amount of traffic be created by the inducement of a cheap transit," On tlm hinges the whole difficulty, as far as I can see. Now, to answer this question with a clear certainty is what no man can do. And hence, some stand back from embracing Mr Vaile's system, because they have not this clear view of the future success. They think, and reasonably, that a large turnover of money is required to come within reach of a payable result for the working of the railway ; and they say if that amount is not got we shall be taxed another way to pay the interest of the money borrowed for railways, and our remedy has only become an evil under another form [of taxation. I think, MiEditor, that such is the general cause that keeps many from countenancing Mr Vaile's reform. Mr Butler says the same as hundreds of others. ;

Now to forecast events that are going to happen, and to see them in the certain future shape, requires the mission of a prophet. But, if we do not require a certainty, a decided, known certaint3', to transact ordinary business, but a moral certainty, only, viz., that under ordinary circumstances such and such a business ought to be lucrative; it ought to get a footing, and yield its fruit, and pay its employer. So the same moral certainty we ask of Mr Yaile when lie propounds his railway system." The calculations of Mr Yaile are specious and taking, no doubt. Are they sound ? Many, with Mr Vaile, think they are ; others have their doubts. The future only can with a certainty decide. , New, I think, a kind of compromise might be started, and, if successful, encouraged ; and it is the one Mr Butler and others wish to see inaugurated, viz., let there be a day in the week for the Yaile charges and system, or two days, or half the week, or one week about, each system tried, the Government and Mr Vaile's, and then without much risk we shall soon find out which system pays best. Those that prefer the Government charges and management will avail themselves of them ; and if Mr Vaile's system is sound it will create traffic on its own days, and in its mvn way. This Mr Butler seems to wish for, although he talks about shunting Mr Vaile's system and locking it off. Another argument Mr Butler uses is this : He says we want more population, not easier traffic. I answer him, we want both ; and the easier the traffic the greater increase will there be of population. Why ? Because those will marry and settle down to work the land who will get facilities of having a market for their produce, and so earn an honest livelihood for themselves and families. How many young people dare riot face a married life because they do not see their ivay to keep honestly a wife and family, and the present prohibitive system of freights is causing much misery to persons already married. A little illustration will perhaps explain my meaning better than arguments. When I was a little boy at home I remember most vividly how very often during the year, Mr Vaile's system was tried on the passenger traffic, and the results were astonishing. Excursions were organised and trains run at mere nominal charges. Imagine a train on Saturday from London to Ramsgate, and return on Monday, for ss. And this was every_ Saturday during the bathing season; no trains were crammed full as they were and none paid half so well. But some one will say. Look at London and its population, and look at us and our population, and bath season! I am coming to it. London, no doubt, has a very large population, but it has the same population all the year round, and all the days of the weeks; why is that particularly cheap train so full ? It is convenient and meets a popular want. Hence it pays well. Now Messrs Maxwell and Hudson know that Auckland is a seaport town, that it has its bathing season,' and baths, and amusements. They know that Te Aroha has baths that are not surpassed in the whole world. Yet would you not think that some energy, some enterprise would have been shown by these clever business men to- avail themselves of : such powerful opportunities? We know there were two or three cheap excursions during the whole season. And when it , first dawned on Mr Hudson to start these ! excursions and he saw the result, he was heard to say by a person who told me. Well! well! who would have believed it! j Just so, Mr Hudson, certain experiments i fill you with astonishment, and no wonder J you are in the wrong office. lam thinking a station-master's duty is about what you 1 might get through, if the public would bear ' with your unpopularityin a country station. But that the whole country, should be suffering so much from our railway mismanagement is a thing that requires immediate reform at even much cost.—l am, yours truly, ' Go-a-Hkad.