VAILE'S RAILWAY SYSTEM.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9339, 13 February 1896, Page 3

VAILE'S RAILWAY SYSTEM.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION* TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, February 12. A deputation waited upon tho lion. A. J. Cadmau, Minister for Railways, in connection with the proposal to briug the et&g< system of Mr Samuel Vaile into operatios upon a section of the New Zealand railways. The deputatiou was introduced to the Ministor by Mr Thos. Thompson, who said In could assure those present that Mr Cad man was in sympathy with Vaile'a system When he was not a Minister but a private member of the House he (the speaker} had been anxious to have tho system tried, and had moved in the matter. He attempted to have a clause inserted iv tho Railways Bill when before the House to mako it compulsory, and on that occasion Mr Cadmaa voted in the lobby with him. Various members of the deputation adduced their reasons for a trial of Vaile's stages system. It was (stated thao the public would nob rest satisfied till the Government gave the system a trial. Mr Cadman saic Mr Vaile deserved every credic for his perseverance in the matter. The Government were in just the same position as a struggling Bottler, and they had to make their coat according to their cloth. It was all very well for a member of the deputation to say run the railway, but the Government could not do it. If he understood Vaile's system right ft went iv to reduce the rates for passenger traffic more than for freight on produce. Now, all the settlers who had interviewed him wanted to be able to got their produce to town cheap. If they made the railways free to-morrow how many more passengers would travel? After the novelty had worn off they would find the settler or business man would not be able to epara time to travel even, if he got free on'the railway. When the Government took over the rail* ways there were complaints that sheep traffic destroyed the roads, so it was determined to life aheap from the roads to the railway line. The returns showed that in nine months 275,709 more sheep have been carried, whioh meant a profit) of £735; but against thab they had to spend £10,000 in procuring rolling stock. However, the Government, could nob complain in this instance, as no doubt it would pay in time. Coming to the passenger traffic, a different state of things was shown, over the newly organised holiday excursions. Out of children's excursions they did not look to make a profit; bub what did the returns show ? During the holiday period from the 18 th December to the 2nd of January last, there was anincreaee of 31,113 in the number of passengers carried in the colony, but a decrease of £3200 17s 3d in the rovonuo. With regard to carry-' ing firewood, the rates had been reduced, and they had gained nothing. On the other hand, the revenue had gone and the traffic decreased. Instances like these made him pause before introducing the Vaile system. However, he had arranged to meet Mr Vaile, and he would hear bis views fully. The Cabinet would then oonHider the matter and say "yes" or "uo." The Government could not afford to play with the railways, looking at it from a revenue point of view.- If they played ducks and drakos with the revenue, tho country would soon express its feelings, and rightly so.