WILL IT PAY?

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 171, 21 July 1910, Page 3

WILL IT PAY?

TO EA|L_THE NOETH.

HON". J. A. -j__J-_R OBBTJEATE.

(3y Telegraph.—Paaliamentary Reporter.),

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

A rather warm discussion took place in the House of Representatives thi3 afternoon relative to the revenue-pro-ducing powers of the North Auckland railway, and from the tenor of the debate it;would seem that Southern members are not impressed with the need, for' pushing on tliat particular line. & Mr. F. Mander moved: "That there be laid before Parliament ti return showing the amount of profit made by Helens-ville-northward railway during" the last five years, as the profits of the line ara not given separately in the railway return.'"

The Hon. G. Fowlds urged that it would be wise for the House to hesitate before calling for such a return, since a very large expenditure would be involved, in its preparation, and very little benefit would result.

Mr. Stall worthy urged that the North Auckland railway earnings should ha kept separately from those of the South Auckland line, so that members would have some idea of the revenue-producing capabilities of the line.

The Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Railways) said the return would cost more than the information was worth. At one time the Department kept separate returns of the earnings of all lines. What was the result? Where a railway was shown to be largely revenueproducing it was the basis for persistent agitation for larger public works votes at the expense of those lines not doing so well. The outcome was that the Department decided that the whole of the returns for the North Island should •be grouped, and likewise for the South. Island.

Mr. Mander: If the North Auckland railway earnings are not available, how could you make such emphatic statements about its revenue-producing capacity? Hon. J. A. Millar: I have made statements in that direction which I sitand to. Every mile further north you go with that railvay is a mile worse for traffic.

Mr W. F. Massey: It will be till you reach Maungaturoto. Hon. J. A. Millar: And further on than that.

Mr J. Stallworthy: Nonsense. Bon. J. A. Millar: There are thousands of acres in the north that will never 'he tapped by this railway. There is no getting away from the fact that the railway cannot compete with water carriage. Look at the harbours on the East Coast. There ia Whangaroa, Mon,gonui, Whangarei. Mr Massey: Tell us what you think of the western deviation down to the Kaipara. _ \

Hon. J. A. Millar: I am not discussing the route of railway, but am referring to the splendid harbours which exist on both sides of the narrow North Auckland peninsula, making water carriage, easy. On the Kaipara the settlers have their own launches and run their goods down from the different arms of the estuary. Again, if this return was prepared it would not give a fair idea of the earning power of the line as a whole, because most of its revenue is derived from traffic within the suburban, area between Auckland and Henderson, Personally I would like to see a return placed before the - House showing the earnings of the line hetween. Henderson and Wayby. • ...... ...

_lr -lander: There are three million acres of land waiting to be tapped... Hon. J. A. Millar: There is a tremendous area that the. railway wDI never tap. It will not pay one half per cent, if carried to its terminus. My prophecy will come true, though none of -us may live to see it. Those who come after mc will find I am not making any mistake.

Mr Mander: If what you say is true, why spend £ 100,000 on one deviation that brings the line across an arm of the Kaipara?

The Minister concluded by saying that if it was possible to get a return of the earnings between Henderson and Wayby during the next-12 months it would be found that in the matter of population and trade the revenue producing powera of the line were anything but magnificent. (Applause from southern members.)

Mr Stallworthy, in urging his request ■for faster trains on the North Auckland line, quoted figures to show what an urgent need there was for improvement.

The Minister replied that the distance between Auckland and Wellsford was 71J miles, the bulk" of which was over very heavy grades. . In this distance there were 32 intermediate stopping-placesj which meant that the train had to-make on an average a stop every 2 miles 17; chains. As a matter of fact, however, a number of the stops were made at short intervals. The train had no chance of attaining any great speed between stations, as it was constantly stopping and starting. Allowing for stops, the actual running time was four hours, which gave an average speed of about 18 miles per hour, which was reasonably high when the nature of the country oven which the train had to travel was taken into consideration. Every attempt made by the Railway Department to cut out stopping-p\aces so as to -accelerate the speed of xhe trains was strenuously opposed. On the one hand, a demand wa3 made lor fa_t services; on the other, the strongest resistance was always manifested to a reduction of stops. The fact that during the last 12 months the whole of the trains rim on the lines of the Coniinioh ran within 2m lSs of actual time-table time indicated that punctuality was very well maintained. Mr Stallworthy said the answer was not altogether satisfactory. For instance, the last time he travelled over ■the line the train was delayed for XI minutes at Waitakerei and for 12 minutes at Newmarket. The troub}c was that the trains ran at too slow a pace. It seemed to him that the Minister for Railways had a "kink in his mind" that was detrimental to the district North of Auckland. (Laughter and applause.) They continually heard stories of this line not paying. .

Mr Laurenson: It is said to be barren country.

Mr Stallworthy: An endeavour has been made to create tlie impression that it is as bad as the Otago Central; that is an injustice to the North. The Minister seems to think the North of Auckland does not deserve a line.

Mr Laurenson: Oh, scandalous! (Ironical applause from Southern members.)

Mr Stall worthy: I hope the Miniater will come North and see for himself the real position of affairs. (More noisy applause.) I trust the Minister will be impressed by the hearty manner in which the House approves my proposal.

The debate on Mr Mander's motion to prepare a return of the xaStways' earnings was adjourned.