RAILWAY REFORM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2483, 9 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

RAILWAY REFORM.

Wk have received a reprint of two letters on this subject liltcly published in the Herald, which Mr Vaile requests us to reproduce. Wo regret that pressure 011 our space prevents our doing so at length, but we give the salient features of the letters : —ln August last year the late Minister of Public Works put my system {both as regards passengers and goods) in force mi the Whangarei-Kamo line. When this was done the coal mines had been closed some time, fully one-third of Uie population had left the district, trade was in a most depressed condition, and this littlo line was in a state of almost complete collapse. The passenger fares were fixed at fid first and fid second class for the whole ui' run/ portion of the seven miles. It seems hardly possible for any trial to have taken place under more adverse circumstances, and the failure of the new system on this line seemed to be assured. However, this is the result of seven months' working according to the returns of the Department:— IS3G-7—September to March : Passenger fares trip* taken 10,212 1887-S —Septeniberto March : Passenger fares 7,081 Decrease ... ... 3,181 Equal to So' 7 per rent. This falling off is partly due to the population having left, but in my opinion' more to the high fare charged. The distance from station to station varies from one to three miles, 1 ] and very few people care to pay 91 or Gd for such a ride. 1556-7—Percentage of first to second-class fares 25'2 1537-S —Percentage of first to second-class fares 20. S Increase l^pc This increase is not very great, but when we remember the high price of the first-class fare, it is satisfactory, as showing I was right in anticipating an increase in the proportion of first to secondclass fares. I^Bo-7—Passenger revenue £-40 10 8 1557-B—Passenger revenue 200 11 6 Decrease £48 16 2 Or equal to l'J'o per cent. This is very satisfactory, for it most conclusively prove* the soundness of my contention that averaging the faro gives the best fiuauoial results. The decrease in the number of fares was 30'7 per cent, while the decrease in revenue was only 19'G per cent. I should mention that an omnibus proprietor competes successfully with this line, which he could not do if the fares were Gd and Id. His plant consists of three omnibuses and ten horses.

ISSH-" —Working expenses £1.753 15 7 ISS7-S—Wnrkingexpenscs 890 8 5 Decrease £847 7 2 or 48-9 per cent. As near as can be, a saving of one-half. This is a sucoess that could hardly have been looked for. A small portion of it is no doubt due io the stoppage of the coal traffic. IS3B-7—Goods traffic revenue ... £1,916 3 Gd ISS7-8 —Goods traffic revenue ... 802 9 4 Decrease £1,081) 14 4 or 56.7 per cent. This is probably inaiuly due to the stoppage of the coal trade. If the new system had been working on tho Auckland lines last year, and a loss had been made on passenger revenue of 20 per cent, as at Whangarei, and a saving in working expenses had been made of 20 per cent, only, instead of 49 per cent, as at Whangarei, the revenue would have gained £9G42 from this section only. The great indirect advantages of my system, and the influenco it would have on tho settlement of the country, have never been disputed, but the Department has always asserted that it would mean sevoro financial loss. • That point may, however, now be considered as settled. No loss is at all likely to arise ; indeed, it seems almost impossible. The system is no longer a matter of theory, it is an ascertained fact that it remains to be seen whether my fellowcolonists will assist on its being put into forco on a longer section of railway I am, etc., Samuel Vaile. Auckland, 19th May, ISBB.