LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 142, 15 June 1920, Page 5

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

THEIR USE AND VALUE. BItfG.OENERAL RIOHAEOSONIS VIEWS. SAVE YEARS OF TIME. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.', HAMILTON, this day. In a letter to Ga.pt. Dansey, on the use and value of light railways, ißrig.General Richardson states that his views are limited to casual observations of these lines in Germany, France and Belgium before the war for suiburbau traffic and industrial purposes, and later to their employment during military operations. (When, he says, the armies had eettled down to trench, warfare towards the end of 1914, the authorities were faced with a new problem—that of feeding and supplying very large numbers. These numbers increased to millions, and only those who took part in the great war could appreciate the difficulties of transport. Large areas became impassable to ordinary vehicles, and Toads were too few to carry the traffic. Those who saw the roads in. 1915, congested with traffic of all kinds, particularly during operations, and afterwards saw those roads under similar conditions in 1917. could not help remarking that something extraordinary had been done to perfect the organisation of transport. The improvement was largely due to the extensive use of light railways. What would have been inaccessible country was made accessible 'by light railways, and by thi3 means the army was shown what could be done in the opening up and development of new countries. During the war many developments were introduced for "destruction which would now <be used for civil purposes* of reconstruction, and which would assume a permanent place in the commercial activities of the world. One of these developments was undoubtedly light railways. By their means country would be j opened up in less time by years than Iby the making of roads. The Canadian I authorities realised the value of light ' railways in the development of their Dominion and, at the termination of the war, purchased large supplies of light railway material from the British Government. "Your efforts to interest the public in this subject," adds the general, "are an indication of low this country will ultimately benefit by the experiences of returned soldiers whose - minds have been broadened by ■travel and experience." The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce discussed the matter of light railways at ite meeting last night, and appointed three delegates to visit Wellington along ; with the deputation from the light railway leagues of the districts to wait upon the Premier and the Minister of Public • Works with a view of getting the Railways Act amended to permit of the construction of light lines.