DUPLICATION AND ELECTRIFICATION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14990, 10 June 1914, Page 5

DUPLICATION AND ELECTRIFICATION.

TO THE EDITOB OF "THE PRESS." gj r> —There appears to be much mis- ' apprehension as to the claims that the public havo over the management of the railways. It is not necessary to say that thoy should bo run m such a manner that they will earn the largest Erofit. It is obvious that Mr Hiiey as been appointed to carry that out, and to oppose any political pressure to prevent him doing so. Now, just re- | cently there were a.number of deputations waiting on him, which would require him to make an expenditure that would considerably reduce the profits of the railway. As far as the railway authorities are concerned, they want no duplication or electrification, lneir average work at present is six poods trains each way—they could, with a little extra pressuro do eleven—and after that could -work all night long. Bearing in mind that the railways aro run for profit for the benefit of the community, what right have we to interfere in the management i 1 herofore, wo must admit that Mr Hiley took tho correct position when h© gave the deputations to understand that he could make no concessions, and that, instead of doing that, railway charges would havo to bo raised. Some don t like it. but sensible people always like to know where they are, and we must certainly thank Mr Hiley for letting us know that. Now, for tho sake of illustration, let us assume that electrification of tho railway and duplication of tho tunnel would run into £400.000. At 4J per cent, that would be £18,000 a year. Do wo expect them to lose that? If not, what proportion of the loss do wo propose to pay? How often do wo hear tho expression used: Our I grand, natural harbour." # It ie very instructive to compare it with Timaru— I which cannot be called a natural hap. bour: — i d Id £ s cL 6. d. c. d. lij-.tlelton SIG,GIO 4<V7G2 17 5 3 Timuru .. 3Sa,SI2 40,333 4 0 10 5 0 Difference in favour of Tiniarn .. 110 That is, there are two tilings required in a port—facility of getting the ship in and tho goods out of it. Lyttelton has the first, but sadly lacks tho second. t —Yours, etc., JOSHUA LITTLE.