Otago Central Railway.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2283, 5 February 1912, Page 5

Otago Central Railway.

The visit of Dunedin citizens and others to Central Otago in the interest of railway construction and irrigation has already caused several Southland contemporaries to take up a hostile attitude regarding the railway. The “Southland Times” says : In this issue we publish a letter from a correspondent dealing with the Otago Central railway Our friend has recent ly travelled over that permanent record of monumental folly, and he has returned in such a frame of mind that we have found it necessary, in the interest of that moderation which it is always well to observe in public discussions, to “ tone down ” a few’ of his expressions. We do not disagree with our corresnondent in any respect. The language lie employs is fully justified. In fact no one who travels over the Otago Central, and who realises its uselessness and the enormous drain it makes upon the profits of other South island lines, can be blamed for using language which is commonly regarded as unprintable. Hut in the columns of the press it is well to exorcise a little restraint, and in this instance, the case is so convincing that nothing is to he gained by over emphasis. The Otago Central railway was a gigantic blunder, and those who were responsible for it din a disservice to the Dominion and particularly to the South island, which will handicap our railways for a great many years to come. The Otago Central line has cost in round figures £ I j'ioO.OOO. The annual loss at a low estimate is £2 lOs per cent., so that if wpi say the profitable lines of the South Island pay £40,000 a year in order that Otago may have the pleasure of seeing trains run on the Otago Central line we are generous to the neighbouring province. To all but the people of Otago this is extremely galling, and to the whole of the South island it is extremely serious, for the reason that the inroads made on railway revenue by the Otago Central reduce the profits earned in the South Island and make comparison with the profits earned in the North Island unfavourable to us. North island newspapers and public men are never tired of contrasting the earnings of North Island lines with those of South Island lines, and they carry their argument to the point of suggesting that the North Island lines are really supporting those of the South Island, and that in justice rates should he increased in the South island until the earnings are brought up to the average rate of interest upon railway expenditure and reduced in the North Island until the profits fall to this average rate. At the Opposition “ rally ’ in Auckland a few nights ago certain disturbing references were made to the prospects of securing “ justice ” for the North island from Mr Massey should ho coriie into power, and “justice” might take the form of differential railway charges as between the two islands. The North island has a majority of members in the House, and Mr Massey has a majority of supporters iu the North Island. For years we have been affirming, reiterating and emphasising the fact that this railway question is one of great gravity, and, as our correspondent realises, the menace may present itself in concrete form at any time. The Otago Central is built and it is better to operate it at a loss of £2 10s per cent than to close it at a loss of something over £3 percent, hut there is no necessity to build another Otago Central and South island members should combine in a solid body to resist further expenditure upon tho LaWrcnceRoxburgh line. We. should think we have written more than a hundred articles on the Lawrcuco-Roxurgh line and have pretty well exploded its claims to respect, but work is still in progress and people who have not a personal acquaintance with the district have no conception of the waste of money that is taking place. We could wish that other taxpayers would follow .our correspondent’s example and take a run over the Otago Central and then make fhe trip from Milton to Roxburgh. Such an outcry would follow as would kill the railway instantly. The Gore “ Ensign ’’ says ; —Dunedin merchants intend to send an organised band of delegates into Central Otago next month, it will he interesting to read the speeches of the devotees who make this pilgrimage. It is noticeable that invitations have not hem ex ten led to any but those \<ho will bless (he project. Those likely to he impartial critics have not been asked to join the delegation. . . . ’j'he cost of irrigating Central Otago generally, apart from the Upper Chitlpi. will run into millions hefni’'* it iV completed, and the results will he highly problematical. As for a future extension of the railway beyond Clyde, sntdi a scheme at the present time would lie nothing short of a political crime. There are much more urgent an 1 much more prdllahle railways needed in the North island and in S mthlami.