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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2452, 29 March 1888, Page 2

Mil Samuel. Vatle lias written a letter in which ho deals at length on railway reform, and the elFocts of the English and Victorian systems, which he contends are disastrous failures. Mr Yaile is strongly opposed to the control of the railways being placed in the hands of a non-political Board of Commissioners, pointing to the fact that the same plan has not proved itself a success in Victoria, nor exhibited any improvement in the management. Mr Vaile says, "As to the location of population, this is what is taking place : For the decade from IS6I to IS7I, the population of Melbourne and suburbs, in proportion to the whole colony, increased by 2.08 per cent. ; from IS7I to ISSI it increased by 3-04 per cent. ; but in four years from 18S1-5, when the pre sent railway system had been in force IS months, the increase was 2.61. For the decade it is not likely to be less than 9 or 10 per cent. 35 per cent, of the total population of the colony is now congregated in Melbourne alone." We also agree with the writer in the following views expressed by him : "In my opinion the great aim and object of railway administration, especially in countries like this, ought to be to distribute population, to promote settlement on the land ; and this it is impossible) for the English system ever to do. Ido not believe we caii attach too much importance to tho distribution of population."