RAILWAY POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 20320, 31 October 1929, Page 15

RAILWAY POLICY

NO COMMERCIALISATION THE MINISTER OPTIMISTIC [Special to thb * Star.’] WELLINGTON, October 31. The Minister ol Public Works, reply mg to the debate on the Works {statement early this morning, said that il the Leader of the Opposition considered that non-political control of the railways would bo an improvement-he had ample opportunity of putting that policy into action, but had not done so Personally, Mr Ransom considered it would not be in the interests of New Zealand that the railways should be commercialised so as to run at a profit and pay full interest on capital expenditure. -tie regarded the railways rather as a means ot developing a young country. The railways had done more to develop New Zealand than any other enterprise. The Minister of Justice <Mr Wdford): ¥ou mean that the railways should be the servants, and not the masters, of the people? Mr Ransom: “Exactly; and the value of the railways must lie in longdistance lines.” He added that it was the policy ot the Government that amah sections of-line should be linked up. Mr Wilford: Would it mean that farmers would have to pay full rates for their fertilisers if the railways were commercialised? Mr Ransom; “It would mean many disadvantages.” The Minister added that the railways were most useful in shifting stock. He had been approached on several occasions by local bodies with requests that special stock roads be provided, but rather than go m tor any system of dual reading it would be preferable to link up unfinished fines. Speaking of the South Island Main Trunk line, Mr Ransom said the developmental aspect had to be kept in mind. He considered that the future prospects of New Zealand were as bright as they were in the past, and where the country was able to meet the demand for developmental lines that demand should be met. He did not believe that any loss which might accrue —and ho did not regard it really as a loss—would be as great as the losses ol the past. Traffic was increasing all the time, and it appeared that losses would tend to 4 ecreasc -