RAILWAY CONCESSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 201, 22 August 1912, Page 9

RAILWAY CONCESSIONS.

I A" PROPOSAL DROPPED. (By Telegraph.—Psrflosnentary Exporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. I There is one plank in the Budget proposals of the Ward Government of last year to which the Massey Government find they cannot approach to give effect to the proposal therein contained —to grant concessions on railway fares for children. The new Minister of Railways finds that this would involve a loss of many thousands of pounds per annum. Tie therefore regretted he could not recommend the Government to give effect to Sir Joseph Ward's Budget proposal. Tt was suggested by Mr. T. K. Sidey (Oaverrfiam) in the House this afternoon th.it as the Ward and 'Mackenzie Ministries had promised to carry out this «*oneession and it could be done without legislation they were not without blame for the neglect to bring it into force. Mr. 11. G. EH declared that here was a chance for the Government to show a reform spirit by stopping the free carriage one way of race horses—a concession costing £7,000 or £B,COO per annnm. The money thus saved would pp,y for the required concession on children. "The railways have b<vn pnir,infr in for some hard knocks again." remarked the Hon. W. 11. He.rries. "TV Minister of Railways lias to lie hard hearted because he has to look after the interests of the public whose money is invested in railways." It was very easy, he went on to say, for members to get up and speak from a humanitarian point of view of the encouragement of large families. Tie quite agreed, and was only too willing to I support measures in favour of large families, but at the same time he was rei quired to guard the public purse in connection with the railways. His departs mental officers, by whom he must be I guided, had advised him that if the change suggested was adopted it would i mean a concession of £40,000 or £50,000, and he was not prepared to sacrifice that amount of revenue. Just now he had some large problems before him. The railway servants were asking for an increase, and in many instances he thought their demands were just, and he had to satisfy them. Then members came and asked for concessions, find on top of this came this demand for £50.000 for the conveyance, of children, and still he was expected to provide a dividend of 3j per cent. It was impossible— Minister of Railways with the best of intentions could a<ve<|e to the requests that, were made by humanitarian members. It had been the rule for many years to grant concessions on racehorses and polo ponies, and there was no doubt the Department gamed considerable revenue from race meetings. Although the member for ChnsU-hurch North thought it was » very wrong sour.v to obiin revenue from, still, as Minister of Railways, ho would be glad to see race meetings evenday. especially if they had such traffic no occurred in connection with the Grand National and New Zealand Cup Mr. Ihitt: That is false economy. Hon. Mr. Ilerrie*: I am not epiakin" as a political economist, I am speaking as Minister nf Railways. Proceeding, he added that if he had not financial'restrictions he would I** only too glad to favourably consider the request, but still he did not think the whole cost should fall upon the Railway Department. Touching on the subject of rates the Minister said these would bo carefully gone into when they obtained their new expert. He admitted there were anomalies in the rates, but it was a matter that required to be gone into by a committee of exports.