The Railways

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32073, 22 August 1969, Page 10

The Railways

Sir, —It is accepted that the North Island carries the South Island railways, but are they not known as New Zealand Railways? Or have they become two separate departments now that a profit has been made.? I am under the impression that the function of the railways is to provide a service to the nation. One example of this type of service is South Island hydro power for the North Island, which in transit loses 14| per cent. This lost 14] per cent Is costed at $7m —in fact, a clear subsidy of S7m has . passed from South to North. South Island businesses would be grateful for something in return to compensate tor the saving generated by one of its major resources, Railways are slowly coming back into their own, so why prune them? Far better to have a policy Which will balance the economy.— Yours, etc., SIX-OR-HALF-DOZEN. August 21, 1969. Sir,—The National Government has forced branch lines to close because it yields to pressure from road transport vested interests, Farm costa have not only been heavily increased by increased rail freight rates, but by increasing road transport charges inflicted on the excuse of wage increases for drivers. Road transport from branch railway sidings is far cheaper than road transport from towns and main-line sidings, and it is also closer to the farms. Time means money to the farmer, and only branch lines can let him get his work done quickly. The railways have also to face tough competition from private passenger coach lines. All the National Government has done is to made vicious fare increases as it believes in making the user pay in order to provide ineffective competition for its friends in the road transport industry.—Yours, etc., DISILLUSIONED > NATIONALIST. , August 21, 1969.