RAILWAY FREIGHTS AND FARES UP.

Evening Star, Issue 23130, 2 December 1938, Page 8

RAILWAY FREIGHTS AND FARES UP.

If illustrations are wanted of the relentless rises in the cost of living they are provided in the announcements of increases in, the prices of butter and coal and in railway fares and freights. These developments will hot be welcomed, but the moral is that' a majority of the people having determined to keep in power an expensive Government the whole of the people have to pay for its extravagant administration. The new arrangement in the matter of railway charges need occasion no surprise. They had been foreshadowed by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Railways. One justification stressed by Mr Sullivan for his action was his comparison with the railway systems of other countries. That is beside the mark. What many New Zealanders feel is that under a more prudent financial policy the course now announced could have been avoided. The importance of a cheap and efficient railway system to the country can hardly be overestimated. Ministers say that production must be increased. Manufacturers and traders declare that they are embarrassed 1 and hampered by excessive costs, and yet another burden is to be imposed on them. The secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union shows how the man on the land will be disadvantaged by the higher railway and road service freights that are to be imposed. As the cost of living goes up it may be conjectured that the workers will demand increased wages. If these are granted costs will further increase correspondingly, and no one can predict what the end will be. One effect of the new arrangement will bo that more reliance will be placed on private motor traffic, so that the department will not get the full .benefit of the higher rates. The Minister’s decision is a desperate attempt to stay an unfavourable drift. Results of the operations of the last few years have revealed that the profit —the favourable balance of gross earnings when placed against working expenses—has been steadily diminishing. For instance, .last year’s statement issued by the Minister announced that the net revenue was £903,858. This year, according to the report laid on the table of the House of Representatives in August, the sum was £632,797. For the current year the Minister anticipated a net revenue of £503,392. The decrease recorded, in the Ministerial statement. Mr Suljivan explained, was due to the operation of the fortyhour week for the full year and salary and wage concessions. Consequent on the inauguration of the shorter working week the staff had to be increased, and the total number employed at the end of March showed an increase on the previous year of 2,234 hands. The percentage of operating expenses for the year was 96.05, so that unless the now rates improve the position it looks as if all of each £IOO will soon be absorbed in this way. The capital cost of the opened and unopened lines in the Dominion is £68,189,260, so that it will be seen that a very large interest bill has to be paid out of the revenues of the State. Mr Sullivan says the Government has come to the conclusion that the alterations, spread equally over all classes of traffic, while materially improving the net revenue position of the department, will not prejudicially affect the trend in trade and industry generally. Such optimism is unjustified. Anything that adds substantially to the present high costs of production must have an unfavourable effect on the economic life of the country.

“ The German people seem to he completely dominated by the Nazi Party, and as they arc frightened to express their opinions it is difficult to know what they are thinking,” said Mrs Evan M'Kenzie, who has just returned from a tour abroad, to the ‘ Star ’ to-day. Mrs M'Kenzie added that the annexation of Austria created much bitterness in some sections of that country. Eor tho German people she had a great admiration—they were hard-working and courteous, and treated visitors very well indeed. Tourists were also warmly received in Italy, where the people seemed to be very happy and cheerful. Mrs M'Kenzie considered that there was not the close bond between tho German and Italian peoples that the “ axis ” suggested. She left Europe before the crisis had developed, but even then there was a great deal of war talk. In this respect she found the Swiss to be rather apprehensive of Hitler’s intentions.

A new landmark visible from many miles out to sea and from the Hint road right across the harbour, the Centennial Tower of the New r Zealand Exhibition is an object of considerable importance to airmen arriving at or departing from Rongotai Aerodrome (says the ‘Dominion’). Its height lias been slightly curtailed in order to prevent its constituting a source of danger to aircraft. The tower stands toMay approximately 150 ft high. It has reached its full growth, but on the top will be placed a central house sheltering the entrance to the balcony and a flagpole. To reduce the danger these would be to low-flying aircraft 10ft has been erased from the plans originally laid down. At every stage of its erection its precise height was reported to the aerodrome officials, so that pilots could be warned in tho event of bad visibility. A wisp of rag flutters on the very much lower tower of the Government court as a warning to aviators. The tow'er will be accessible to visitors, and will have two systems of stairways, each reserved for one-way traffic—one up, one down. Each system will comprise 219 steps. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that at a meeting of the Far East Relief Committee yesterday Sif James Elliott said that the outlook for medical men in'New Zealand at present was uncertain. “ Young doctors are disturbed in their minds about what prospects they will have for the practice of their profession)” Sir James said, “ and whether conditions will be congenial. Some of the younger men are not going to continue in New Zealand if they find that the changed conditions give them less freedom than they can find in other parts of the Empire.”

Au example of the wide divergence of personal opinions was given at the gathering of the Dunedin Travel Club at the Vedio Cafe last evening, when two speakers referred to the same subject. Mrs Richard Hudson remarked that she had been thrilled by the English countryside, where the trim hedgerows, green pastures, neat and tidy farms, and the rolling park-like downs were amongst the loveliest things she saw. On the other hand, Mr J. L. MTndoe said he admired the orderliness of everything, but that it created a feeling of oppression, and ho longed for the bright sunshine, the grandeur of the New Zealand mountains, and the majesty of its lakes. During the week ended to-day five cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were notified in the Otago health district and two in Southland. One case of hydatids was notified in Otago. Another valuable gift was recently made to the Public Library, consisting of files of several scientific publications, pamphlets, and other papers, the donor being Mr H. H. Pearce, of Dunedin. The most interesting item is a two-volume set of State tracts published during the reign of William HI. and bearing the dates 1705 and 1706. To the first volume is prefixed a history of the Dutch war of 1672, which, it is stated, “ was suppressed at the instigation of the English Ambassador because of the discoveries it made of the league betwixt the Kings of France and England for enslaving Europe and introducing the Popish religion into those kingdoms and the United Provinces.” The library has received a number of presentations lately, and these are at present being displayed in the hall.

America’s recent devastating hurricane was more of an amusement than a terror for Mr C. G. Parish, who has returned to Christchurch from the United States. Mr Parish was in the offices of the ‘ New York News ’ when the gauge showed a wind velocity of 85 miles an hour, and when he went outside he saw with his own eyes at least 500 umbrellas collapse. Carts were picking up discarded umbrellas all next day. Three girls standing together on a corner laughed so much at the misfortune of a woman nearby who was enveloped in her umbrella that they neglected to hold their own straight, and one after the other the three embrellas were blown out. Temperatures were too high for overcoats, Mr Parish explained. An old screw press, of which buyers took little notice, would have been a profitable investment for a person with a small bid at a clearing sale of the late Mr H. J. Wheeler’s property, at Waimate, on Tuesday. Between the iron jaws of the machine five £2O notes in acceptable condition were found yesterday morning by a carrier, who was removing it with other unsold goods. The money was returned to the vendors, and it is believed the carrier was well rewarded for his honesty.

November was a record month for recruits so far as the New Zealand Territorial Army is concerned, said Captain R. E. Murray, publicity officer at army headquarters, who returned north to-day after spending a few days in Dunedin. He said that during the mouth there were 575 enlistments throughout the Dominion, while only a 'few more than 200 men had been posted to other units on transfer or had left for other reasons.

Advice has been received by the secretary of the Automobile Association (Otago) that the Kawarau Gorge road is at present in fairly good order. Several of the worst bends have been widened and eased, while the resurfacing of rough sections is proceeding so satisfactorily that by the time the holiday season commences this road should present no clifficultics to motorists.

Reference to wanton acts of destruction perpetrated by irresponsible vandals was made at last evening’s meeting of the St. Kikla Beach Improvement Society by the president (Mr J. V. Trezise), who remarked that,, the efforts of the society to provide amenities at the beach were being nullified by the acts of vandals who appeared to take a delight in damaging anything that could be damaged. Amusement devices and seats in the children’s play area had been broken, Mr Trezise said; flowers torn up, and the boxes of the slot gas rings rifled. It was quite apparent that those responsible for this mischief were completely out of sympathy with the work of the society. Unfortunately it was difficult to catch the offenders in the act, but if the offences could bo sheeted home the society would take action immediately.

Deputy-Premier. Following on representations made by the Otago Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union with respect to assistance for scrub cutting in the Gatlins district, the Government has now decided to offer a 100 per cent, subsidy on ivages to those settlers who arc unable to cope with the problem themselves. Details of the scheme have now been worked out, and special meetings of the Catlins settlers will bo called about the middle of December for the purpose of placing the matter before them. King Sol has apparently passed Dunedin by in favour of those districts at the' back of the surrounding hills, besides seaside resorts. When Dunedin was experiencing unseasonable wet visitations, residents of Mosgiel and the Taieri Plains, as well as Karitane, were basking in brilliant sunshine. The belt of fog ■which has hung over the city ends about Green Island, and evidently Hhe encircling hills play a major part in keeping the plains free from the sea mist which at times makes its unwelcome presence felt in Dunedin. The strong demand for girls for employment in offices in the city was given as the reason for the smaller number of entrants in the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce commercial examinations by the secretary of the chamber, Mr J. Hoy Smith, in reporting to the council of the chamber. “ The demand for girls is so good that they are able to obtain positions after only a short training,” said Mr Smith. “ There is, therefore, not much incentive for them to carry on to the point where thej T can qualify for certificates.” The Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, opened the new Post Office at Tauranga yesterday in the presence of about 1,000 citizens. The building, which cost £23,645, occupies a commanding position and is up to date and commodious. The guests were afterwards entertained at afternoontea. The Minister despatched the first telegram from the new office to the Prime Minister. The contractor, Mr D. C. Street, of Hamilton, presented the Minister with a chiming clock, and the architects, Messrs Edgecumbe and White, of Hamilton, presented him with an ink stand.—PrQSs Association. Another highly successful day was experienced in connection with the “ Learn to Swim ” campaign being conducted by the Otago Swimming Centre at the Municipal Baths. There were improved attendances at the lunch hour session, the ladies’ afternoon class has been well attended throughout the week, and a number of schools have attended the late afternoon session, which has proved the most popular of the effort.- Although instructors are more difficult to obtain at that hour, Very good work has been done, and those in charge have been greatly assisted by several members of the Training College Club, who have assisted in the instruction. Very good progress has been made by many of those attending the evening periods, and with a large supply of instructors it has heen possible to give individual tuition. It has been more noticeable this year than in past years that those seeking instruction have attended regularly throughout the week. To-night tests will be held for many of the pupils to ascertain in some degree what progress has been made, and the classes will be continued to-morrow.

Though the continued wet spell experienced in Dunedin over the past fortnight is regarded as rather unseasonable, last year much similar conditions were ruling at this time. Over the first few days of December there was rainfall, while temperatures seldom exceeded 60deg, though on November 27 the high recording of 81deg was made. To-day’s maximum of 7ldeg is the highest since October 19 of this year, when 72.6 deg was the registration. The only high reading since that time was 69deg on November 5. At its quarterly meeting to-day the Chalmers Licensing Committee transferred the license of the Lee Stream Hotel from E. R. Smith to John Bond.

The postal authorities advise that the Empire air mails despatched on November 12 and 14 reached London on Monday last. The Waitaki left Sydney for Wellington on Wednesday with 35 bags of Australian mail and the Empire mails of November 17, 19, and 20 for Dunedin. The mails should be to hand on Tuesday evening.