DUE TO THE PUBLIC

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 131, 7 June 1929, Page 10

DUE TO THE PUBLIC

FULLEST .INFORMATION

(By Telegraph.) (Special' to' "The Evening Post.")' -AUCKLAND, This Day. Commenting editorially to-day on the railway policy, .the "Star" says: "What the public are entitled to is the fullest information. They are entitled to require that, if the opinions of Messrs. Fay, Casey, and Jones are ignored, reasons shall be given. There may be an answer to these reports; if so, let us have it in detail, and let us assure our Southern friends that geographical factors do not enter into this question at all. It does not matter whether the proposed line is in Southland, Canterbury, Marlborough, or North Auckland, the one and only question is, is it justified jsconomicallyf We use the word 'economically' in its, widest sense. A loss o a line for a few, 1 years might be justiiied, if it could be shown that it would ultimately pay, and the opening up of the country is a factor that may be considered.

"Let. the, Government ask for a report . from-"its: expert advisers, which will take everything' into consideration, present and 1 future revenue, land settlement, and motorscompetition. At the present time th^; public cannot be blamed for. feeling^ uneasy about this policy of completing main lines without the publicatioiV of the estimates, and the opinion's; of. 'tKe/men upon whom the responsibility for running the trains will. rest. > ■•-.' •

."Mr. Jones,' speaking aB the exchairmari. of the Board of Management, gives-'£'2o,ooo a mile as the limit of economical construction.: The latest estimated cbst; of : bridging the South Island main line gap is apparently over £30,000 ■ a milo: ; Moreover, the . estimate, as -with :the figures, for other lines, is steadily rising. Is Mr. Jones wrong? Is it worth while building a line that costs so much? Bear in mind that both the Fay-Baven and the FayCasey reports were compiled some years ago. Since then motor competition has become more formidable. . The case for a most careful investigation before the Government, tijjrns another, sod is overwhelming.'? ■■■■■■■ ■. '