The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1925. NEW RAILWAY TARIFF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 August 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1925. NEW RAILWAY TA RIFF.

Delivered etery evening by *5 o’clock -n Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyvilie, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Wbakawara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraaer Hoad, au Ararata.

Jt speaks' volumes lor the readiness of the Minister of Railways and his officers to discuss with those concerned objections to the new .schedule ol charges, and for the department’s tactful handling of the .position, that a final settlement has now been reached, apparently generally acceptable. There wias a time when a new scale of oharges would have been announced, and the public left to take it or leave it Those were the days of railway autocracy; these are the days ol business methods .both within the service and in its dealings with others. Various interests afiected complained thatthe treatment proposed i n the Railway Board’s first draft of the new rates would be unduly severe upon them; and these were given amp.e opportunity to lay their case before the Minister and his permanent, officers. The raising of charges by any business man is hound to be left and possibly resented by his clients, and the resentment is the more pronounced when the increase is imposed by what lias come to be looked upon as .a. public service, as the railways have. But no user of a transport- ►system should expect it to operate at a loss; and certainly no reasoning taxpayer would ask that the railways be made a charge upon the ordinary revenue of the country. Faced with increased running costs and heavier overhead expenses, the Minister was forced into a thorough review of railway finance, and increases in the tariff were unavoidable. While the finst proposals were the fruit of no hasty examination—an attempt- had been made by the board to weigh each detail with the utmost ecu'©—there were obvious weaknesses in the chain. As the result of conferences with those who are regular - users of the railways, several of these faulty links have been ref urged, and the result should bo not only fewer inequalities, but also a .stronger chain generally. And it the department- continues to exert itself in providing the best possible servile, the heavier burden of its charges in certain directions may be the sooner forgotten. Business men and fa miens will not object to paying a little more for improved treatment and greater eiliderLcy.