National ‘killing railways’

Press, 29 July 1978, Page 23

National ‘killing railways’

PA Masterton New Zealand’s dying railway system is being used by the National Government to close the country districts, according to the Social Credit spokesman on transport, Mr W. Cowl.

In comparison with reading, which had been developed at a real cost in overseas exchange, the railways system was being killed * at a real cost in terms of internal development and production. “We are fast moving toward a main trunk rail system only, and this is not on,” he said. “Rail was originally the transport system that opened up New Zealand, now the Government is using it to close the country down.” If the Government had poured into the railways the millions Of dollars it had put into reading — $128.3M in 1977, against $20.1M for railways — then the system could be developed and upgraded. “No-one complains because a new multi-million motorway does not make a profit, but railways are allowed to die because they ostensibly do not pay,” said Mr Cowl. “If railways had been developed side by side with reading we would have one of the best rail services in the world. “But roading has devel* oped a massive 640 per cent more than rail, and has never returned a single cent in terms of revenue.