PUBLIC DUTY

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1932, Page 2

PUBLIC DUTY

SUPPORT FOR THE RAILWAYS. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, December 2. The opinion that the public itself was largely to blame for the financial difficulties of th e railways because of its failure to support the system, was ■expressed by Mr A. J. Murdoch (Govt., Marsden) > when speaking on the railways statement in the House yesterday. Every railway line closed 1 down meant cutting short the supply of New Zealand coal, ho said. Mines were kept working by (supplying the (railways, while every railway in work added to the money value of material which could be supplied locally, said Mr Murdoch. It was New Zealand’s dtity, therefore to encourage the use of the railways in preference to other forms cf transport. The public had itself to blame because it had shifted its allegiance from the railways to th« roads. Closer co-operation was needed between road and rail transport, and wherever road services were operating parralltl to the railways, stringent restrictions were needed to put the load's back on to the trains.

The next thing was for the Railway's Board to reduce its freight charges and fares. A full train at low rates was better than an empty train at high charges. Tits, present Government, said Mr Murdoch could not be blamed for all the misdeeds of the past, Railways which gave little prospect of paying were under construction 30 or 40 years ago. However, there were, lines which were 'showing a heavy loss while lying idle, but could at least make some money if they were working. The whole question was in the hands of the public. '