The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1900. A WISE RAILWAY POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1900, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1900. A WISE RAILWAY POLICY.

For the caus9 that lacks assistance, For the vrong that needs resistance, Tor the futuro in tie distance, And the good that ye can do.

Important results az-e likely to accrue from the conference of railway traffic managers, district engineers, and chief officials which .the Hon. J. G. Ward has arranged, to take place in Wellington after the Easter holidays. The new Minister of Railways has done wisely, iii thus summoning .-"the1 men who have charge of and are in touch with the details cf our railway system. They are in the best position to offer' practical advice and to correct such, errors of misapplied theory into which the heads of the department in Wellington may be easily led. (if course, provision is. already ■• made for the fullest reports being furnished to headquarters -by those in charge of the various sections: but much more solid advantage-is likely to be.g'aineu from the executive officials actually

meeting- together and comparing notes. The present time is very opportune for such a gathering. Never in the history "of Xew Zealand railways has there been such excellent results to. show. During, the later years.of Mr; Gadman's administration the improvement of ."the. financial .position was constant -and marked, till iusjt year the indefatigable miriistfrr was able, to announce an increase of revenue over the previous year of close on £100,000. The present year opened with the best auspices for continued success, and it has amply fulfilled its promise,. While yet only ten months of it had elapsed there was registered an increase of over £ 128,000, and there is every prospect that before the twelvemonth closes, a. few weeks hence, that figure will have been considerably augmented. These results, while highly gratifying to those who take an interest in the financial position of the colony generally, appeal more directly to us all in view of a statement recently made by Mr Ward. He declared that the Government's policy was to reduce railway rates in the country to such an extent as to take from the railways a revenue Of only 3 per cent. That percentage assured, there would be a very large sum to go back to the users and owners of the railways— that is, the general public—in the shape •of reductions on passengers' fares and goods freights. As a fact, the Government ' have had in view the intention which Mr Ward now explicitly, states they mean to adhere- to. But it is only recently that the revenue from the railways has been sufficient to afford the necessary interest on their capital cost. In 1592----93 it reached the highest figure it had ever touched affording an interest of £3 1/ per cent. But during the next three years it never reached the 3" per cent, mark, being1, in one instance, as low as £ 2 14/6. The year 1596-07 saw a sudden great improvement. The percentage of revenue to capital cost was £3. 3/10; and since thfen. the revenue has increased in qtlite a wonderful wsy. . ...... ......

There can be no question o the soundness .of .the principle whu-h the Mjn■lster of Kaihvays lays down,as the one that is to guido the railway adnuustia lion of the future. The- railways^ve« constructed in the interests and for the benefit of the country, and not for the purpose of making-woney out ot the country. The mvt_ concern£t tl c Government, therefore, is not to be nble to show a large sur^is revenue I v to give the people ot .New Zv.land the cheapest carriage for then; c. aßd their goods. If that objeel is kept steadily in view/the settlement ot the country will proceed apace, .lhe tai mer will carry on his business favoured by the enormous advantage ot cheap transport for his produce, and the lonely life of the p^eer settler will'be relieved by the possibility ot cheap means of communication wit ft the centres of civilisation. lhe increase of settlement thus fostered w.II in turn react on the railways, and we irav look to see- an expansion ot the' revenues in an ever iuereasing ratio N<?.w lines and branch lines will speedily be laid ..when the success of the new policy is .assured, and at a much nearer date than we have dared to hope, remote districts will be in touch with the cities and seaports.