LIGHT RAILWAYS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 23 May 1919, Page 7

LIGHT RAILWAYS

PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEER'S

VIEW

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, May 23. Giving evidence before the Industries Committee, Mr F. W. Furkert, engineer of the Public Works Department, thought light railways such, as used in France for war purposes were too small, and he was doubtful if they would prove a successful proposition commercially. The Government had thought of purchasing light railways 1 from France, but found they were I wanted in the latter country. Witness ! believed' that if light railways were built people using the roads would still cry out for the former road space for carts and motor cars. He estimated the cost of light railways at £3000 per raile, though he had known them built for £1200. Light railways would have to be run on a bus system, and it was advisable that public bodies should control the railways running through their districts.