RAILWAY MATTERS

Evening Star, Issue 17977, 25 May 1922, Page 5

RAILWAY MATTERS

DEPUTATION TO MANAGER OP RAILWAYS. EXPRESS AND SUBURBAN GRIEVANCES. Last evening a deputation consisting of Mr Charles Todd (president of the Otago Expansion League) aftd Mr Georgo Emngton (chairman of the Expansion League’s Railways Committee, with its affiliated bodies) waited on the General Manager of Railways in tho Board Room at tho Dunedin Railway Station to place before him various matters that have been exercising the public mind of late. With Mr M'Yiuv were tho heads of the various departments, including Mr Bowles (local traffic manager). .Mr Charles Todd stated that they appeared before tho manager more as constructive critics, and trusted that any suggestions offered would bo viewed as coming from those who had suffered by the present handicaps prevailing and were desirous of helping in a. solution. Tho first matter was the running of the morning express between Dunedin and Invercargill on only throe days, instead of the six days as formerly. Ho instanced tho many disabilities that resulted from the cutting out of these trains on the three days of tho week, and particularly how it affected the connections from the branch' linos. Mr Todd mentioned how this particular cut affected stock sales, handicapped school children attending secondary schools, and militated against tho successful carrying out of tho ordinary business of tho province. Ho thought that the actual cash saved by the cutting out of those three trains was more than offset by the loss to tho Government and tho community generally by the added wear and tear on the roads," which in mnnv cases were repaired at the Government's expense. or, on the other hand, at tho expense of tho local body. In any case, tho public paid. Under those circumstances if was doubtful if tho Government was financially better off by cutting out certain trains, and thereby diverting traffic to tho roads, 110 recognised that the Government and tho Railway Department had their difficulties, brought about by war and the economic conditions resulting from war, but he thought that ini* nroved conditions would encourage traffic and increase the revenue. -Mr Todd quoted several cases where merchandise amid be more economically carried by road than rail, and mentioned that ho himself consigned petrol to Balclntha. by motor, and could clo it cheaper than by -.ailing it. in addition, tho motor lorry brought back skins, wool, or some similar nruU Tho loss to tho railways, there-

tore. '.■/c.s ,’j double one, because it the Y.cter hud r.ot taken the petrol to Bai■lutb.a the merchandise from that, end ronld have come to Dunedin by rail. Ho intended that it should not bo possible hr transit by road to be cheaper han by rail, “and that the department should look into its charges to see if an Improvement could bo effected. Mr George Errington then npoke on behalf of the' deviation and straightening of the north line, especially mentioning the V-ment? that would accrue it the first sec-ii.-.n—that to Tlavensbourne—'were irnmediatelv undertaken. The speaker pointed out how Dunedin was particularly handi- . :.- j bv r:t having direct railway com- -- urt ati'n :■> the wharves, and also that rrnnv large concerns which were on _tlie n- -lainted'land, between the railway lines ;n.i the wharves, were clamoring for rn.il.Tr.v sidings without avail. Then, by the shifting of the lines io their straightened position, much valuable land would be

■reed on ihe city side of the rails, and this iarid would soon bo occupied by manufacture,:: concerns. The speaker dwelt on Ihe fact that this deviation and ultimate duplication would enable a quicker and more satisfactory service to be run to the suburbs, which would then become even more popular, and many mote people would reside there. Added revenue could not but result from this improvement, and with the reduction in running costs brought about by the straightened trad; and the cutting out of the [’t. Indict Bay station much would be saved. Ho trusted that now the economic position was improving this matter would be favorably considered. Mr Errington next brought before the notice of Mr M'Villy the matter of anomalies in fares on the various lines, making particular mention of certain sections over which there was considerable traffic. lie instanced the case of the fare from Port Chalmers to Waitati being greater than that from Dunedin to Waitati, and Pavcnsbourno to Sawyers Bay being more than Dunedin to Port Chalmers, and several others; and suggested the creation of a zone system as a- remedy. Ho thought that the charge on any part of a suburban section should not be greater than the whole. The next matter brought up was the excessive war increases on second class fares, which, the speaker contended, had not been equitably placed on the different classes. The increase in lares, worked out ton a percentage basis, meant a 50 per cent, increase on the first class and 103 per cent, cm the second. The department might, of course, say that the worker had his worker’s concession ticket, but- that did not provide for the worker's wife or family, and in actual practice it would be found that the worker 'was contributing more per cent, to the increase than who were better able in pay. Me understood that anomrdies and faros would soon bo under consideration, and ho brought forward these matters trusting that favorable consideration would be given them when the fares were reviewed. Mr Errington concluded by expressing the hope that a progressive policy of improvements would he inaugurated on suburban lines, and he felt convinced that people would then leave the town in large numbers and take up their residence in those ureas served by the railway lines. Additional revenue would then surelv result.

Mr M Tilly, in a lengthy reply, said it was not merely a figure of speech to say he was pleased to hear the views of the two gentlemen on the matters dealt with. He would much .rather hare- a talk with people than hear growls from a distance or see nonsensical letters appearing in the public papers. With regard to the matter of tho reduction of the expresses between Dunedin and Invercargill, none regretted more than he tho necessity of reducing the number. But he could not bold out any immediate hope of their reinstatement until the financial position had improved and tho public generally were showing more disposition to travel. Mr MTilly mentioned that no alterations or cuts were made on the railways until after much thought, and when the necessity recently arose, owing to tho financial condition, for radical alterations he could tell them that it had occasioned him much anxiety for over a week to so allot tire reductions over the whole dominion as to occasion the least inconvenience to the public. Ho stressed tho difficulties that nad confronted the Railway Department during recent years, and particularly how the shortage of coal had necessitated tho importation of that commodity from abroad at enhanced cost: and how all material for tho railways had appreciated in price. Then tho wages item was such nowadays that additional revenue was abBolutelr necessary to meet the - charges. Though ho hold out no immediate hope of tho reinstatement of these trains, he said he wouM be as pleased as anyone when lie could bo in a position to improve facilities. In reference to the question of the deviation of tho north line, and especially the portion across tho foreshore from Black Jack’s Point, he said he was sure that both speakers were awaro of the fact that the Otago Harbor Board was pledged to do certain, things in this connection, and he could only say that when the Otago Harbor Board did its part of tho contract the Railway Department would do likewise, He recognised tho advantages that would result from this deviation, and could only repeat that the Government would canry.out its promise of shifting the lines when the Otago Harbor Board had carried out the promised work at the Leith Estuary. With regard to the anomalies and the creation of a zone system on tho suburban sections, he admitted the anomalies, and said that this opened up a big question that affected tho whole policy of the dominion, and at tho present time he could promise no amelioration or alteration

of that policy. Then, on the question of tho increases in the fares, ho admitted that perhaps on tho face of it some sections might have been hit more than others, but when an increase in fares had to bo brought about to provide more revenue tho question had to bo viewed from' tho point of view of tho whole dominion; and when it was decided to impose the war taxes on to the faros it was felt that tho imposition of a penny in the shining or part thereof was the best way. This undoubtedly meant that tho lower /arcs and second class travellers were paying a greater percentage than others; but, notwithstanding this, - the increases on tho dominion railways were not so great as in other countries. Still tho matters brought forward by tho two speakers would not bo lost sight of, and in any future rearrangement these points would bo considered.

Messrs Todd and Errington thanked Mr M'Villv for the thorough way hehad explained the subject under discussion from the Railway Department’s point of view, and for tho patient hearing accorded to the representations made on behalf of the interests of local and provincial requirements. They both trusted that the day would como early when Mr M'Villy oonltl launch out in a progressive policy which would bo in tho best interests of all.