The Ensign MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1913. THE RAILWAYS.

Mataura Ensign, 29 September 1913, Page 4

The Ensign MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1913. THE RAILWAYS.

Hon. W. H. Hemes (Minister for Railways) lias been able to present a very satisfactory report of his first year's control of the railways. Only once before have they returned a profit of four per cent. —in the year 1911. when the linos were under the control of Hon. J. A. Millar. This position of affairs will be reassuring to the taxpayers. They will not be called upor to make good any deficiency in the earnings of the great national undertaking which is the pride of every patriotic New Zealaiuler. The average cost

J of the money invested in the railways is said to be about £3 14s, and the year's work has therefore returned a net profit of about 6s per cent, on the outlay on working lines. The sum so invested is £31,611,220. Before we can say with certainty, however, that the earnings are as stated it is necessary to ascertain the exact cost of the money invested in railway construction. Mr Hemes .himself has told the country that it would be impossible to obtain this information with accuracy. The loan money has been raised at different times and at differing rates of interest, and to pick out how much of each loan has been invested in railway construction and how much in other works would be very difficult indeed. But this information is important. It is impossible to accurately keep the accounts of the Department unless the capital cost of the railways is stated definitely, and tho rate of interest paid for the money is also known. This is so obvious that it is a matter for surprise that the Departmental officers long ago did not have it seen to. Every year ■makes the task more difficult, and eventually it will become impossible. No doubt Mr Hiley (the new general manager) will have the information procured for him. It is pleasing to know that a large number of trucks are under construction, and it will be well if the Department keeps this construction work well forward. There is no denying the fact that it is almost impossible for farmers to obtain trucks in the heavy rush of the grain season, when the rolling stock is not only required for shifting grain but tho regular coal and dripping trade has to be provided for. Farmers are made to take second place to the regular railway customer, and frequently considerable losses are the consequence, to say nothing of the trouble and worry entailed. The scheme to provide depots for selling tickets in the four chief centres is a. good one and will relieve tho congestion at the railway stations at holiday times. But the same privilege should be available in the smaller cities and towns. We have never been able to understand wby tickets should not be sold at any time at the various stations. It cannot matter to the railway officials when the purchaser of a ticket makes use of it, or whether he uses it at all. If tickets could be purchased at the various stations when the offices are open it would bo a great boon to many travellers. Again, why should it not be possible to buy tourist tickets at any station in the Dominion? At present these tickets can only be purchased at certain important stations and at the tourist offices. Every convenience should be afforded the travelling public to purchase all classes of railway tickets. It is satisfactory to find that the earnings per mile in the South Island have been well up to what can be expected. They havo' surpassed) those of the North Island and will continue to do so. This has been done notwithstanding the fact that the South Island has had to compete with sea carriage. This must of necessity keep the rates of fa-.-cs and; freights at their lowest. In the North Island this competition does not come into tho same prominence as it does in the South. The configuration of the North Island and the fact that the railways run well inland will always give that island a larger earning power than the South, where the lines for the most y. art skirt tho sea coast. North Island newspapers never tire of drawing comparisons between the earnings of the lines in their island with those of the Southern railways; but they never mention the cause of this difference. In tho North there are very few branch lines. When the branches are built and in working order there will be a decided falling-tiff in the earnings. .Referring to tb.e high ratio of working expenses to'revenue Mr Hemes says: "In other countries the same conditions occur, and the New Zealand percentage, though higher than I would like to see it, is not higher than that obtaining in other parts of the world. ' Iff the Canadian railways, for instance, the percentage for 1912 was 68.7, and in the United States railways 69.93, as against New Zealand 68.13." Before a trustworthy comparison can be made, however, the methods of accounting must be taken into consideration. The uses of capital and. revenue in the countries mentioned should be clearly stated; before being contrasted. Mr Hemes has reason to be satisfied with the first full year of management. He has shown a larger profit than usual, despite the fact that there have been considerable increases in. salaries and wages. Further, the hours of the staff have been shortened, the train services have been increased, wherever justified, trains have been put on for developmental purposes where there was only a problematical chance of them paying, additional staffs have been appointed to work the interlocking and other safety appliances, and there has been a general, increase in the price of stores and other necessities. When, these facts are considered it will be seen that the Minister has good cause to be satisfied. In view of the profit Mr Herries intends to increase the facilities of the public by arranging for the collection and delivery of passengers' luggage and other parcels at each of the four chief centres and for the conveyance of luggage between the ferry steamers and the Wellington railway stations. He also intends to in r augurate the system of "cash on delivery" for parcels.. Nevertheless, we are not satisfied that all that is necessary is being done to push the business of the railways. We have on previous occasions pointed out that the. facilities for handling coal at Mat aura are by no means adequate, and we think the time has arrived when more liberal treatment should be given to the settlers. They are put to great inconvenience in' many places for want of goods sheds, and in. other localities the want of sidings is retarding the expansion of firms anxious to push their business. No doubt the new goneral manager will endeavor to rectify these matters. If he does not do. so ho will not obtain the : return he otherwise would secure from the working of the linos. Were the railways owned by private individuals - there would be no necessity to con- • timially remind tho management ; need for improved conveniences. The company would see that every possible * ficility "was given to its customers. On '■■■ the whole, however, the Minister a.pd the Dominion deserve congratulation upon the satisfactory railway report presented this year: