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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2488, 21 June 1888, Page 2

The Auckland Star has a leading article in its issue of Saturday last, in which it adversely criticises that portion of our own of the previous Thursday in which we advocated further retrenchmnt in the public expenditure hy reducing the Waikato train service from a daily to a triweekly one. Whilst applauding the spirit in which we advanced the proposals, our contemporary cannot see its way to support them because, as it states, sufficiently valid reason has not been adduced why they should be urged upon the Railway Department. When the service to Te Aroha was curtailed a few months ago we did not join in the opposition raised against the change ; we recognised the necessity for economy and could not, without being guilty of gross inconsistency, raise obstacles in the way of the Government carrying out the country's demands for retrenchment, in which we have been, as pressing as any other journal in the colony. The Star is of the opinion that the proposed reduction to a tri-weekly service will be a grievous mistake, entailing many disadvantages and pecuniary loss to the Waikato settlers. There may be instances of inconvenience to business people, but they would be rare ; judging from the amount of the passenger traffic at the present time, it will be as suitable for the majority of Waikato people to be limited to three clays a week, en which to visit Auckland as any daily or bi-daily opportunities. The inclination now is to travel as little as possible, and it would be far batter that a few individuals should suffer inconvenience, if there would be any to suffer, than that the whole country should be compelled to continue running expensive trains at a loss to the general revenue. The Star points to the fact of the Waikato line being the main route to the Hot Lakes, and that by reducing the present service the district will lose the benefits of the tourist traffic. So far as that is concerned it really matters very little whether tourists going to the Hot Lakes travel by rail or by the Tauranga route, for the district gains nothing by their unbroken transit through the country. Moreover, as tourists as a rule are people of leisuretravelling for pleasure—it would be of very small importance to them if they leave by rail for the Lakes on Monday, Tuesday, or any other day, so long as they can get there with tolerable comfort. In point of fact, however, there are but three trains per week available for tourists under existing arrangements. It is true, as our contemporary says, that the line taps a vast agricultural country, but the railways, as we have declared over aud over again, under the policy on which they are conducted, offer no encouragement to settlement; on the contrary they choke it, and are a sore trouble to our agricultural population. We would probably be better without them. An East Coast gentleman was on a visit here the other day, and saw our position aud observed our railways. Being asked if they desired railways in his district, his reply was, eloquent and emphatic, "God forbid ! We are doing well without them." The Waikato lines are, in a way, remunerative up to a certain point, but beyond that they inflict a heavy loss on the Department. Stock-owners may be anxious as to the arrangements that would be made to enable them to forward stock to the Auckland sales. That is a matter of detail for the General Traffic Manager to decide ; but as all the stock-breeders have their own auctioneers, even with trains running on alternate days from Cambridge and Te Awamutu, they can forward their cattle to Auckland for either of the regular sales held there, though probably they may have to land them at their destination, a day or two before the sales take place. If there is inconvenience or difficulty attached to this, that could be overcome by the auctioneers adopting the plan in operation in large centres in Australia, England, aud America; namely, for all of them to pre-ar-range to sell on the same day, and put up the stock consigned to them in rotation, as they go the round of the pens. Under this system larger attendances of buyers are obtained, and more spirited biddings with more satisfactory prices the result. Whether the change to a tri-weakly train service is a retrograde step or not, we have to contend for a great principle, that is, positive economy in the administration of the country's affairs and abstenance from luxuries not warranted by our straitened circumstances.