RAILWAY COSTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1939, Page 10

RAILWAY COSTS

"FOOLING THE PUBLIC"

MR. HAMILTON RETURNS TO THE ATTACK

INQUIRY WANTED

"As with the man who protests too much. Mr. Sullivan's reply to my statements concerning the mismanagement of the railways today is calculated to sidetrack the main issue, but by its very style it reveals the embarrassment and weaknesses it aims to conceal," said the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) today. "In the fooling of the public in future, it will not be sufficient for Mr. Sullivan, or any of his colleagues, to avoid direct questions by retiring under the time-worn catch phrases of depression fear propaganda. "The public is entitled to more than half the story and that is all it had before I brought the facts to the light of day. In plain language, the railways are costing more to run today than formerly. And they are costing more than they earn. Why? "I am not in the least upset by the Minister challenging my veracity. He should be the last to do that, but his quarrel is with the Government Statistician. I did not expect him to be proud of muddling, but I expect the official facts to be met. The latest Abstract of Statistics, dated February 27, 1939, sets out the position on page 25 as follows: — STATE RAILWAYS. Percentage of Expenditure to Revenue. Days. For the year ended March 31, 1937 — 91.81% For the year ended March 31, „„_■„, 1938 . — 96.05% For the period ended January 8, 1938 283 98.48% For the period ended January 7, 1939 282 103.45% "It is not hard to see that the significance of these figures is that on January " of last year the percentage of revenue to expenditure was only 2.43 per cent, above the average for that year. On January of this year, the percentage was 7.4 per cent, above the average for th*. previous year. "The first month of the operation of increased freights and fares —with .the Christmas season to back them—produced only a little more than half a per cent, in the reduction of the excess of expenditure over revenue. To borrow the expression of Mr. Sullivan himself, it is unthinkably ignorant to imagine that such a state of affairs can be tolerated. "Mr. Sullivan quarrels with my statement that, prior to the increasing of fares and freight charges, the cost of earning £100 was £106. I can only refer him again to the figures of the Government Statistician in the Abstract of Statistics for December last, page 22: STATE RAILWAYS. Percentage of Expenditure to Revenue. Per cent. For the year ending March 31, 1937 91.81 For the year ending March 31, 1938 96.05 For the 225 days ending November 13, 1937 100.04 For the 226 days ending November 12, 1938 106.19 "Mr. Sullivan may, of course, have someone else supplying him with figures, but I prefer to rely on the official returns published by the Government Statistician, and the only ones available to the general public and myself. THE ROSY SIDE. "I said, and I repeat, that the Labour Government attempts to suppress all but the rosy side of any picture. Mr. Sullivan is merely falling into step with his favourable half-truths. On this occasion, Mr. Sullivan has flown to the defence of a forlorn case. I will not join issue with him in-details aimed to sidetrack the fundamental pointpolitical control of the railways under Labour has increased its cost to . the people of this country enormously. Even his figures show that. It is my duty to continue to champion the public's interest, even if I have to be subjected to abuse from some for doing so. "It has been pointed out that in 1938 there were 35 fewer engines than in 1934, but there were 3232 more men in the locomotive department. It is also true that under the same scale of comparison, even when • income increased by £2,300,000, there wasj £450,000 less paid towards interest and £7000 less towards superannuation. "And so it goes on. Is there any wonder I say that the whole position must be the subject of a close inquiry, and that that inquiry must be soon. If Mr. Sullivan must give us new facts, then let him give a separate monthly statement of railway services and motor services."