OUR RAILWAYS AND THE COMMISSIONERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2668, 17 August 1889, Page 3

OUR RAILWAYS AND THE COMMISSIONERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I see thnt the Waikato County Council lias passed certain resolutions ,ro waiting on the Railway Commissioners to ask for " concessions " in freight chargcs. lam not aware of the nature of the 11 concessions '' asked, but I vory much regret the action taken. It appears tt< me that the time has gone by in New Zealand for asking for "concessions" and that what we, one and all ought to do, is to Bt"i nlv demand rights. Waikato may tako my word for it, she will get nothing worth having out of thes'i Commissioners, a pretenco of giving relief will bo made, but if 5 per cent, is taken off in one direction 7J per cent, will bo put on in another. The Waikato settlers, with regard to produce, will be treated precisely as the Kaipnra settlers have been treated with refjard to timber. I call attention to the following resolutions passed by the Gore 1 ( armers Club " That the Gore Farmers' Club is of opinion that the gentlemen chosen by the present Government to fill the office of railway commissioners are in no way suitable for such appointment, and strongly urge on the Southland members to make a searching inquiry as to why such appointment was made." " That the Southland members be requested to sec that instructions be given to the Railway Commissioners by the House of Representatives to amend tho present railway tariff in the following directions —(1) The reduction of passenger fares and acceleration of passenger trains. (2) The reduction of charges on live stock and dead meat. (3) Re-casting scale of charge on lime and native coal. (4) Imperative instructions as to accuracy in weighing grain, which has all along been highly unsatisfactory to the community. This is tho right sort ot language to hold, thern is no asking for " concessions ' here, but a demand for what is right. In the strongest manner possible the Invorciirgill Chamber of Commerce has supported the Goro farmers. Many cruel wrongs have been inflicted upon this country by hasty, ill-considered, class legislation, but for downright wickcdness, in my opinion there has been nothing to equal the Government Railway Act of 1887. Its main ibject undoubtedly wns to perpetuate and intensify all tho evils of the present .system, and we shall do no real good until we get rid of it. It is now nearly seven years since I first pointed out the evils of differential nnd mileage rating, advocated their abolition and asserted that they must go. My Waikato friends will remember how loudly I was accused of i&nor.itico for saying these tilings, but time has shown that I was right. Tive years after, in 1887, Ameiica absolutely abolished differential rating. In 18SS Great Britain abolished differential rating on railways, canals and ships belonging to railway companies, and they threw the onus of proving that a rate was not differential on the companies. In March this year the Americans passed an amendment to their Act, making it apply to " waterways " as well as railways, and imposing penalties for each differential given of any sum up to £1000 and imprisonment for two years, either or both at the option of the court. Here we have, in 1887, passed an Act for the express purpose of introducing and working this abominable system to the fullest possible extent. On the first of this month, August, 188'J, the Hungarian Government started working the State railways of that country on the stage system. They reckon all fares by stages of O.'i 1 iij, 20, and more miles, the fares being uniform for the whole or any portion of a stage. The Hungarian Ministor, as I did, recognised that it was necessary to begin this groat reform with passenger fares, nnd not goods rates, and he has also rcduced the fares as I proposed to do, to nbout one fifth of tho price charged formerly. The endorsment given to my two main contentions, by the legislative action of England, America and xlungary, is I think sufficient proof that I have fully studied tho subject, have arrived at sound conclusions, and am able effectively to deal with this pjreat question. I now claim that I am entitled to speak with authority in this matter, and my sfroiu?, earnest advice to the Waikato people is this. Do not wasto one moment's time in talking to these Commissioners, have nothing whatever to do with them, but put yourselves in communication with the Gore people, and the leaders in other country distiicts. and get them to write with you in demanding from Parliament during the present session, that our wretched system of Railway adminstrntion shall bo at once swept awav in tot'i, and that in future there shall bo a groat simplification of the goods traffic, a great reduction in fares and rates, a total abolition of differential rating, and that all fares and rates shall be reckoned by such a system of stages as shall give much greater facilities for settlement on the land, and for the transport of people and produce from the more distant districts and on moro equal terms. If wo would act promptly and vigorously this could be done. It is simply monstrous, that three or four men for the sako of their own self interests, should be allowed to block the progress of this grand country.—l am, &c., SAMUEL VAII.E. Auckland, August 13th 188!).