Poetry.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2575, 12 January 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

Poetry.

fares and freights

How is it that our railway* year by year turn out a loss ? Can it be owing to the fact that Maxwell is the boss ! No, Mitchelaon complacently has told us all of late: — •'That they're managed with ecouomy, and we must only wait."

Yes 1 wait for population, in our greatgrandchildren's time, There'll be vast increase of people in this pleasant southern clime ; And perhaps it should console us that the prioe we now must pay, Will benefit posterity in some far distant day.

Our railways ought to pay just now, of that there's little doubt; And will when they've a manager who knows what he's about If freights were low and simplified, more traffic soon would follow; Now cart and waggon, 'buss and van can beat the railway hollow.

Why don't the Government accept the offer made by Vaile? Perhaps they rather fear success than that his plan would fail. It has been tried with good results, as anyone may see Who notes the change of income on the line at Whangarei.

The trains on our Waikato lino have rarely half a load, And ev'ry week the cattle go to Auckland by the road. Would any private company in management so fail, As thus to own to all the world the road can beat the rail.

Cattle and produce, both alike, must go some other way, For railway freights are much too high for farmers now to pay. I eay that to mistaken greed this fact is wholly due, For empty trains mean loss of trade as well as revenue.

What class of men in business have the largest fortunes made? Those who demand the highest price, or those who do mo3t trade 1 Supply a thine the public need, and do your very best, Tile price as low as possible—demand will do the rest.

Who is it on the English lines that pays the dividends ? The first-class gives the best of all, the lowest makes amends; The poor man swells the total, and the sum would make you stare, If you conld see the full amount, that's reaped by third class fare.

I wish that Cook (the tourist's friend), whoso business now so large is, Could bo our new Commissioner; he'd lower all the charges. He knows full well, with lesser freight, the lines would better pay, High charges only kill the goose, that golden etfßs would lay. Nhmo.