BACK TO THE RAIL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 96, 6 April 1934, Page 7

BACK TO THE RAIL

INCREASING TENDENCY Mr. Mackley’s Impressions PUBLIC ATTITUDE CHANGING By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, April 5. The narked change in the public attitude towards the railways, the growing understanding of the work the railways are trying to do. greater confidence between railway officials and members of the travelling public, steadily improving railway revenue, and the increase In efficiency in handling the traffic, arc some of the impressions gained by Mr G. H. Mackley, General Manager of Railways, during his first of inspection of the South Island.

The Railways Board, he said, expected a largo increase In revenue for the year just ended. Last year's revenue amounted to £850,540; this year the revenue would not be much short of £1,000,000. This was an indication of the back-to-the-rafl tendency which was common throughout the country. Farmers and others were beginning to realise the advantages of long-distance railway transport for their products over ’ transport by road, and in the Southland district, which Mr Mackley had just visited, farmers were almost 100 per cent, loyal to the railways in their goods business. Public attitude to the railways was definitely changing,, and people were recognising the improved oflkiency of the department and the service it was giving to the country . Tho public was beginning to understand the railways better, and the Railways Board had done a great deal to bring about this feeling of confidence. He was convinced that there was a definite inclination on the part of the travelling and trading community to turn to tho railways, as they were realising that the State railway system, with its invested capital cost of £51,000,000, was a national concern worthy of every support. The Easter traffic returns for the Dominion showed this, and he thought it was due not only to the intensive publicity campaign of tho department but also to a revival of the interest of the people in their own transport concern.