RAILWAY REPORT

Feilding Star, Volume 2, Issue 423, 27 December 1924, Page 5

RAILWAY REPORT

mMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT MUCH OF ]T ADOPTED) REDUCTION OF FARES, INCREASE IN COAL RATES The Hon. Gordon Oates, Minister of Railways, released 'for publication lhe : very lengthy report' of the Railway Commission from England, Sir Slim Fay and Sir Vincent/Raven, on the orangisation and running of the passenger and goods, traffic, etc., of the New Zealand railways. We give a summary of the principal recommendations: — That rail way finance'he taken out of the Treasury, and the Railway Department be given full .control of its own funds. That the Railway Department pay the actual rate of interest upon loan raised for railway purposes. That the railways he so worker! and managed that the gross receipts slinil he sufficient to cover working, expenses, reserves, and interest on capital, including sinking' funds. In the event of any surplus,'this to.he devoted to reductions of rates and fares, and in the case of a deficit rates and faros he increased. That the Railway Department ho managed by a Railway Board, comprising a chairman and two other members. That a Chief Mechanical Engineer, fully qualified and thoroughly conversant with up-to-date methods of railways working, he appointed. That two- General Superintendents, one for each Island he appointed. That one Divisional Mechanical Engineer in each Is lad is sufficient. That consideration he given to the employment of flying gangs for the maintenance of branch lines. Thai modern machinery he provided in the locomotive workshops and the general arrangements reorganised. That Potoho and Addington works deal with the whole of the locomotive requirements in both Islands. That Napier, Whangarci, East Town, 'Groymoutii, and lnveroargill be closed down for locomotive work; That new locomotives he purchased from outsider rather than built in existing shops, which are not laid out for doing this 'economically. That consideration ho given to utilising old classes of engines, such as L and La, with one or two vehicles attached instead of ordering special rail motors. That consideration bo given to the purchase of Welsh oonf which would reduce consumption. That trials be given to ascertain fco what extent it would he possible economically to use New Zealand coal. That as the wagon stock appears to ho high, careful consideration he given to this matter flint a complete revision of timetable's is essential. That mixed trains he reduced to a minimum. That tourist, excursion, and halfday suburban traffic lie encouraged by increased facilities and popular fares. That the control of train movement and distribution of wagon stockhe centralised. That collection and delivery of ■goods and parcels in combination, with motor owners be introduced. That no rental in addition to* cost of construction and renewal he charge on private sidings. That excursion fares he reduced. That fares for distances up to 3 miles he reduced. That great caution he exerciser! in reducing rates'. That certain coal rates be increasoo\ That improved methods of conservation and stock be introduced'. That a graduated scheme of rail-way-training bo instituted.. That a prorgnmme of officers' visits to other railways he arranged. In our opinion the New Zealand railway track has boon exceedingly well laid out and, the standard of maintenance is a .high one. LEVIN-GfREATFOiRD 'DEVIATION Palmerston North (deviation an the new .station and yards are a 'necessity or traffic operation to-day. It should without doubt bo relieved as soon as possible. The Levin and Marion new lino is advocated as an alternative io some extent for expenditure at Palmerston North. Even if a direct line be made between Levin and Marion the necessity for a complete/ realignment and extension .at, the former, place would still obtain. If no railways existed in New Zealand and it were desired to construct a direct' line between Wellington and Auckland, it is more than probable, that the Lovin-Mar-ton route would be chosen; hut, nnfprtunately for the advocates of the new route ,the lines centering upon Palmerston do exist and must so continue,, and be provided with train services not.only for iTio district immediately adjacent to- Palmerston, but also as a junction point for traffic east (Hawke's JBny line) to and from south, north", and west, as well as .the to jllid from the same districts. The. .route from

Levin to Marion does not, apart from bridges, offer any physical or costly difficulties' of construction, and the district is a good one from an agricultural point of view, but the fact remains that two railways w4U have to "be maintained and worked when this line is constructed. The time will come no doubt, when a doubling of Main Trunk lines will have to be considered seriously, and then ic will 'probably be'found -desirable to relieve the Paimers'ton route by an alternative north and south line between Levin nndMarton. A TRAIN FERRY . With this line in being c „.flfn ferry between Pieton and Wellington (or, 'if possible, a bay with sheltered water and easily by a short railway hearer the South Islands would give all the advantages of through rail transit between the two Islands. Some day, no doubt, this form of communication will be established. The "sooner it is done, looked at from a railway administration point of view' only, the. enrhe'r will h» the time when it 'will be possible to operate the system as a whole as economically and efficiently as in countries 'where lines ai'A not disjointed. The public aspect needs but little demonstration. Throughout communication would make the two Islands one in so far a s transport is concerned. Internal ' tracie would benefit by through rates and fares and avoidance of break of bulk. The cost of landing stations and fcrry T boats capable of convoying upwards of fifty ordinary goods vehicles need not entail very great expenditure in proportion to the advantages foreshadowed and the prospects of revenue to be 'obtained. Probably £500,000 would be found sufficient. Wherever train, ferries have been provided they have developed travel and traffic to a very [much greater extent than obtained under former shipping conditions. Retweon Denmark and Sweden, Germany and Sweden, in North and South America, this form of bridging the seas has been adopted with success. Recently h train-ferry service has commenced to run across the North Sea between Harwich and Zeobrugge.