MR J. P. MAXWELL IN THE WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2590, 16 February 1889, Page 2

MR J. P. MAXWELL IN THE WAIKATO.

.» As previously announced in our last is.nie, Mr J. P. Maxwell, one of the newly appointed Railway Commissioners, together with (Mews Hudson, Oom, Jackson and Rotherham, has been inakiiier a tour of inspection over the lines in those districts, and recciviner visits from settlers m connection with railway in i'.'.u-s. Tuesday tlie Commissioner wax at Te Arolia, wliere, however, no •d;i;iutatiir.!s waited upon him. On Thursday the oliicial party were

At Hamilton, where, besides visits from a few business people who had complaints to make, an influential and representative deputation, consisting of Mr Primrose, chairman of the Waikato County Council and Kinkinroa Road Board, Capt. McPherson, clerk of the same two bodies, Mr T. G. Sandes, County Engineer and member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Mr Geo. Edgecumbe, proprietor and Mr H. Cowper, Editor of The Waikato Times, aud Messrs Swarbrick and Salmon, settlers, waited on Mr Maxwell to bring before him smiio important questions beaiing on the working of the railways and those in tho Waikato in particular." The interview took place on the lawn in the garden of Mrs Gwynne s Hotel. KAIIAVAY I'OI.ICiV. After the members had been introduced to the Commissioner, Mr Primrose said : Mr Maxwell, wo are glad of this opportunity of an interview with you to discuss certain matters relating to the railways. But, before aoing further in the matter, we wish to learn of tho Commissioners, if you can change the railway policy so that'the lines shall not be worked solely as means for raising revenue. Mr Maxwell : That question is still in the hands of Parliament, which retains its hold on the purse-strings, and very properly so. They have not handed over everything to us. What we may do in regard to expenditure must be ruled by Parliament, which is above us. As regards tho rates we shall be guided by the views of tlie country at large. We have not taken the bit in our teeth and say we shall do so-and-so without regard to the views of the country. There is no doubt, within limits, we have great powers. Mr Primrose : We think the railways should be run more in tho interest of settlement, especially regarding the rates and charges. . Mr Maxwell: Wo aro very desirous to do all that; we wish to do our best for the country and be guided exclusively by the views of the country and the House. The train services havo been managed with a view to economy, and must continue to be so. There are some districts where it is difficult to do this. TIMK-TATSI.E. Mr Primrose : There is tho time-table, which is found very inconvenient. By the present time-tablo we can only reach Auckland at 5 p.m., when all business places are closed, and as the train for Waikato leaves at 8 a.m. the following morning, it is not possiblo to do business without spending two days in Auckland. Could you not arrango that the train loaves so as to give us sufficient time in Auckland to transact business and return tho same day? Mr Maxwell: No doubt there is great inconvenience, but there is the question of cost in tlie proposal you make. We are very anxious to make the time-table better. The Waikato has been very patient and zealous in the work of economy, and has supported us. If you could got to town by 3 p.m. and back again the next day, would that meet your wishes ? ~ , , „ Mr Primrose: Yes, that would be better. Mr Sandes : Three o'clock would hardly give time enough to get through one's business, Capt. McPherson: A return tram one day once a week would, 1 think, bo sullioienf, . , ..,, , Mr Maxwell : You must consider if that would bo better for outside places like Te Aroha, Lichfield, etc. The difficulty is to please people who live at distances from a station, and havo to get up very early to catch the train. Mr Swarbrick : If the train was daily, there would b*tb«l, difficulty, but i f O 1 "" was an early train ouco aweek. people could fix thoir business for that, and not consider it any inconvenience. Mr Maxwell: We will give the matter every { vw wyaelf thinking

of a train so as to reach Auckland at about 3 i>.m. Mr Primrose;: Th.it would only give two hours in town for business. Mr Maxwell : I have always fmuiJ that one great cause of complaint from settlors is getting back at late hours of the night. A train once a week would perhaps not satisfy the outside places. Mr Primrose.: All parts are anxious fur a, quick train. Can the. Railway Department give the accomodation? They would not be inflicting any inconvenience, as no one could object to get up by six in the morning. Mr Maxwell: We will give the matter careful consideration. There must be taken into account the question of cost. KAHKS. Mr Primrose: If we could get four hours in town and back the same day, it would lie a great advantage. The next matter is the passenger rates. I refer only t<> secondclass fares. It costs 24s to get to Auckland and back, and altogether one cannot do the trip under £2. (Members : That is fixing it very low.) Mr Primrose: That is the lowest estimate. If we could get return tickets at ]2s it would not reduce the revenue, as three would travel where one does now. The only difference would be that they would be drawing two extra passengers. Mr Maxwell: This opens up a large question, and one also of money. The. Com nissioners must be very careful of mon-iy. You may remember there was once a system of return tickets, and a great cry arose for single tickets. The Government gave way (contrary to my own ideas), and the revenuo dropped. Now, \vc are asked to go back to return tickets, and that might land us in a deficit. Mr Primrose : I believe there would be so many more people travelling. Mi- Maxwell: If you get an extra quick train and pay the present rates, you would bo saved the expense in town. Mr Swarbrick : In the opinion of the settlers lowering the fare to that rate would bring in the same revenue as at present. It is certain that you would not lose money by making the reduction. 'Mr Maxwell: I will duly report your views to my brother Commissioners, and will bring it under the notice of the Chairman. T.OMi DISTANCE UAHCS. Mr Primrose: The next question is the fares for long distances, which should bo such as to encourage small settlers. We have to look to Auckland as our only market, and the present cost of sending our produce there ends in leaving the settlers in debt. I refer to small parcels. Mr Maxwell : What class of goods? What do you call small parcels? Mr Primrose : Fruit, dairy produce, &c, and of one hundredweight. Mr Maxwell: You consider Hamilton a long distance place. ? Mr Primrose : Yes. Mr Maxwell: Are you gentlemen hero solely as representing Hamilton ? Mr Primrose and others : Oh ! no. Wo are speaking in the interest ot the Waikato at large, and that other parts should be treated in the same ratio. Mr Swarbrick : The question is one of principle. I have had eight year's experience iu railway management in England, therefore can claim some knowledge of the subject. Take lines beyond places like Taiipiri : these slim lines arc the despair of railway men. They cannot pay, and for many yours lines beyond Taupiri cannot pay. If by adopting low rales on such lines the Department loses, by having high rates it will starve itself so tar as such linos are concerned. The thing is ; will the Commissioner, drop a few thousands and give these districts the benefit? They could make a distance of, say 20 miles and charge one rate; the next 20 miles, a lower rate, and so on decreasing with each stage. The loss would not bo very groat. Will you, therefore, hold out the hope of such a policy as regards long I distances ?

Mr Maxwell: I ean only speak now on my own responsibility anri not for my colleagues*. I cannot speak for Mr MoKerrow, as ho has not yet disclosed his views. One of the provisions of the Act we are working nnder is to give every consideration to the settlement of the country, and wo arc brmnd to take the subject into account, and advise the Covcrnmcnt and tho House on the matter. It is part of our instructions to do so. We will take the question into consideration. The Government will support the Commissioners, Tho diCienlr. hitherto, has been a financial one. X..one doubts the benefits that would be iH'c.- n plUhcd, but every Colonial Treasurer li.-.s lii.i u afraid to run the risk of an cx-|,-.'i rii-nifc and loss of revenue, as a deficit would be serious and would have to be made up by taxation. Mr SwarbricU : You are losing thousands now. Mr Maxwell: We arc losing interest, but apart from that wo are just paying our way, We are carefully considering the settlement of the country and whether we can promote it by relinquishing part of the revenue. We must be governed by the desire of tiie country. I'll Km irrs. Mr Primrose : There is the question of freights on small parcels. Mr Maxwell, wc are a community of small settlers and you must consider that. We pay, at present, more on small parcels than on large lots. Mr Maxwell : I know of no such instances. Mistakes may be made by clerks, but they can be remedied. Captain McPhcrson : We now pay for one ton tho same as on two, and that is a serious thing to small settlers. Mr Primrose ; To small settlers it is very hard, and we feel it more here than any other parts of the oniony. Mr Maxwell : We will give the matter consideration, and generally as bearing on the great question of production, TRUCKING OK CATTLE. Mr Saudes; There is a matter I wish to refer to. In tins morning's Waikato Timks is a report of a case of cruelty to animals, cattle in trucks to Auckland being knocked about and seriously injured. lam speaking as a gent for tho Society, and I am bound to report the particulars. Mr Maxwell; I have tried to deal with such oases. Wcdiave before taken boasts out of the trucks tlut were injured, and they have had to be be killed, and wc have had to pay for them. The owneis would not look after them. We hive no business to meddle with cattle in transit. Mr Hande; ; Who is responsible m that case '! Mr Maxwell : I cannot say. I. do not know how far the Commissioners are responsible. If tho owners would take the risk of our handling the beasts, wo would do so ; but the owners will not take the risk. The present trucks are small, and inconvenient, and it will take time to get rid of the difficulty. We are now about to replace the trucks with a better clas-s, and in a month or two, we will have better trucks on all the lines. More damage is done in loading than in transit. I have seen great brutality used in loading. There is always a difficulty in getting wild cattle in the trucks, and also in unloading, Much damage is done in unloading and slaughtering, for which tho railway is blamed. Mr Primrose ; The present trucks certainly are not suitable. Mr Maxwell; You can take my word for it that will soon bo remedied. Mr Primrose ; There is a large amount of stock going by road now. Mr Maxwell; So I understand ; but I doubt if it will answer. It has been tried in other parts of the colony, and trucking was found better after all, and paid better than driving. In the Wairarapa they find both driving and trucking unsatisfactory for export, and they have there come to the conclusion to slaughter their meat up-country and forward it dead. Some of the deputation said the perpetual shunting did much of the injury. Mr Maxwell: If a speeial cattle train is given would that overoomo the difficulty '! Members : Yes, decidedly.

Mr Maxwell: I think it is not the shuntin" so much as the stoppages that frighten the cattle. If we give you a faster service we must also give you special cattle trains. A conversation then ensued on tho merits of driving and trucking, and tho effects of both on the meat. Mr Maxwell said he was in communication with practical people in England as to the process of conveying meat cooled by means of ammonia, which is more simple than tho cool chambers. The deputation then thanked Mr Maxwell for his courteous and patient hearing, a»d took a cordial leave of him. At Cambridge. Mr Maxwell, attended by Messrs Hudson, Coom, Jackson and Kotherham, visited Cambridge on Thursday for about two hours. Mr Maxwell was interviewed by one individual only, as, owing to some misconception regarding the time of his arrival, no deputations of .my kind were organised to meet the Commissioner, though there are matters of public interest Wiich many residents felt a desire to lay before him. Tiie officials left Cambridge again at 5,*|5 by special traju.