RAILWAY REFORM.

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

RAILWAY REFORM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Railway reform is a matter of much importance to us all, aud Mr Vaile deserves our gratitude for his efforts and good intentions to improve passenger traffic, but improved facilities for transporting goods, produce, minerals, etc., are of still greater consequence. It is futile to suppose that "selling the railways" will cure mismanagement and remove causes for complaint, for in Britain it is deplored that the drifting impolicy characteristic of British statesmen has allowed the Home railways to be constructed upon no national plan, but under conflicting and selfish personal interests by private companies, resulting in great waste of power and means while the public interests suffer, though attempts have been made to safeguard them by statutes. Companies, to buy our railways, must get them cheap to secure dividends, all of which, just as much as our debt interest, would be drained out of the colony to London. The interests of colonists would be treated as altogether subservient to those of the companies. We would have our land carriage at extreme rates under powerful monopolies just as our water carriage and our collieries have fallen under the Union S.S. and other companies, and pernicious influences, inconsistent with the public interest, might be brought to bear on Parliament, and to which Parliament might be only too susceptible. A British Railway Commissioner is to be imported to manage our railway at a salary greater probably than we can afford to pay the Governor. Ten chances to one this will prove a costly failure. If commissioners are a certain cure for mismanagement, why do we not import '.a commissioner to administer the Government of this colony, and dispense with Parliament? We do not want Commissions, but simply common sense to use our railways so that colonists may secure the best value for their money, though from the manner in which our railways have been devised and constructed, I fear we cannot hope for convenience from their use in proportion to their cost. We want to dispense with martinet railway managers who think that their position is to " boss" rather than to serve the public. Wc want to burn the complicated schedule or rather volume of tariff rates which, like tho Scotchman's definition of metaphysics, nobody cau understand. We want simplicity and economy in railway management, as well as in Government.

I suggest that we should havo only three classes.

Ist. Goods; 2nd., Petty goods: 3rd., Parcels.

Ist. Goods per 5 tou truck would be ten shillings per truck for the first ten miles and under, and five shillings for ten miles thereafter. If the distance is under a half block on auy block after the first, the public would pay nothing for such extra distance, but if the distance was over 5 miles (or the half block), they would pay for the full block of ten miles. The consignor would load, and the consignor unload, but the railway, if required, would do it at reasonable charges. More persons than one could take a truck amongst them at no extra charge. The railway would take all reasonable care, but no risks. Trucks could be weighed in bulk instead of in driblets by hand as at preseut orgues3ed at as they usually are now. If persons overload trucks they would be charged Id per lb. for the excess and if that did not cure them charge also an extra truck. Discounts from these rates would be given of 10 to 20 per cent, on manures, minerals, root-crops, stock, etc., but on coal, provision, shall be made that the discounts would benefit the consumers. Discounts might also be allowed, say 10 per cent, off for the first 50 miles, 20 per cent, for the secoud 50 miles, 30 per cent, for the third 50 miles, and so on.

2nd. Petty goods. For lOOlbs. and under would require a shilling stamp for the first 50 miles ; a Is 9d stamp for the first 100 miles, a 2s 3d stamp for the first 150 miles, a 2s 6d stamp for 200 miles and over. For delivery, where suitable, an extra stamp would be required. These would be entered on the guard's ■waybill and if greater care was desired they could be registered and bear a conspicuous registered stamp, the railway would take every care but no risk. If over lOOHm and under 2001bs there would be a uniform extra charge of say Is for each lOOlbs any distance over 200 miles by the railway. Each additional 1001b or fraction being in like proportion. 3rd. Parcels not exceeding 281b would rrwjuire a6d stamp for the first 50 miles and under, !)d for 150, aud Is for any distance on the railway. Tho provisions as to delivery and registration being the same as to petty goods. For both petty goods and parcels provision could be made for insurance. Dangerous or heavy goods may be charged special rates or may be refused. Passenger fares may be adjusted on similar principles, liberal advantages being given in time tickets to residents along the railway lines, especially workmen's tickets to enable workmen in cities to have their houses and gardens in the country, as well as tho wealthy, to obtain health and somo enjoyment from the purer country air, and the comforts and beauties with which they might surround their homes.

Many tourists have complained to me that though farm produce and land may be cheap in New Zealand, it, of all countries, is the de?rest place to travel or stay in. This feeling injures our most valuable asset, our climate, and the colony as a pleasant and healthy place of resort and residence. To remedy this, I propose that for, say £5, first-class, and say £3, second-class tickets should be issued available, without limit as to times used, over all the railways in the colony for three months, but not to be transferable. To prevent personation, I would suggest, as I did unsuccessfully in 1879 before the opening of the Melbourne and Sydney Exhibitions, that the receiver of the " pass-book " should sign his name in it, so that if the railway authorities suspected personation they could ask the holder to sign his name, and if it proved to be not the correct signature the offender could be punished criminally for forgery. Mr Oliver, the then Public Works Minister who was only remarkable for keeping the .Nelson railway "steadily in view," of course could not see the effect of this, though, as a matter-of-fact, it was employed with the most complete success in the many thousands of season exhibitors and employees tickets issued for the Manchester Exhibition, and if this would divert to New Zealand some part of the many millions of money spent yearly by tourists it would be acceptable, not to speak of other advantages it would coufer.—l am, &c,

W.m. Aia'ir. Murray, Piako, June 12th, 1888.