The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2623, 4 May 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1889.

Equal nnd exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

The visit of Mr.). MeKerrow, Chief Commissioner of railways, to the Waikato has tended to confirm the impression produced on the minds of the settlers by the former visit of another of the commissioners, Mr J. P.Maxwell, that the Railway Board are resolved to popularise the railways of the colony by dis-somting thein from political influences and bringing them as much as possible into sympathetic accord with the desires of the settlers of the several districts. The Chief Commissioner

himself lias not belied the character generally credited to him that he is strongly favourable to any measure that will enable the railway system of the colony to assist the progress of settlement. In this way his views arc in harmony with the original policy of the Public Works scheme, which advocated railway construction as an important and primary element in settling the country. Whilst it is necessary to so manage the railways as to obtain as much prolitabic revenue as possible from the advanced and populous portions of the colony, it is not judicious to carry out the commercial principle solely upon all lines. Policy has to be studied where lines run in sparsely settled districts, struggling to progress and far removed from centres of trade. We have already acknowledged many concessions, promptly bestowed by the Commissioners since Mr Maxwell's visit, which have caused the former discontent that distinguished the Waikato to be replaced by a kindly feeling towards the Board, and a desire to see their regime prove itself a beneficial one to the colony. There is, however, •ne pressing question that materially a fleets the welfare of the settlers which they ate naturally extremely anxious to see met with favourable consideration. It was the only vital question brought forward by the deputation under Mr McKerrow's notice, and was succinctly argued by Mr Swarbrick, who is an old railway expert himself. The sorest trials and difficulties producers far up-country have to contend against are caused by the inequality of their position as compared with thatof producers who are within easy distance of the central market. It is impossible for the former to compete with the latter on fair terms, and if they place their produce on the same markets their returns are a certain loss to them, or the profits are so small as to discourage production. And the extra cost of carriage entiiled upon the long - distance settler is really equivalent to an additional heavy tax on his land, for which all his labour cannot find su'ficient compensation. If Mr McKerrow, using his influence on the side of the settlers whose interests he professes to have at heart, can introduce a system of differential charges for long distances, he will confer an immense boon on the country at large, and leave rery little undone with which the public can find fault.