ESTABLISH 1O 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Friday, April 10, 1901. THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 88, 19 April 1901, Page 2

ESTABLISH 1O 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Friday, April 10, 1901. THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

Mr Ward should be in a happy frame of mind when he contemplates* the prospect of explaining to Parliament the position of affairs in the two great departments of the public service of which ho is the Ministerial head. It was only the other day that he gave a most interesting and, to tho taxpayers, most gratifying account of the j)rosperous state of the business transacted by the Post and Telegraph Department. To-day it is the turn of the Railway Department, as to whose business the Minister has afforded some very interesting details to a representative of the New Zealand Times. Here, as in the Post and Telegraph Department, reduction of rates has been followed by an expansion of business which is truly astonishing. Cheapen tho passenger fares, lower tho goods rates, said Mr Ward when he took charge of the railways, and your revenue will immediately feel the benefit of the change. The new policy has been strikingly successful, both passenger and goods . traffic having enormously increased, whilst it is apparent, by the figures quoted by Mr Ward, that the necessary increase in working expenditure has not been so great as to materially reduce the augmented profits. This is most satisfactory. Even had the reductions been responsible for a huge increase of traffic without much profit, the new policy would still have been highly commendable for public convenience, and must, when railways are owned by the State, be a consideration superior to that of profits. But Mr Ward can give us pleasant assurance that the increase in the difference between revenue and expenditure .is no less than £130,000. No fmore striking proof of success could be afforded. It is gratifying to learn Jthat this department lias been making such a strenuous effort to increase the rolling stock, and that at tho present time the railway workshops are so fully occupied. Altogether the honorable gentleman has given an account of his stewardship which his employers, the taxpayers and general public, ought to, and will, no doubt, "consider eminently satisfactory.

Discussing the question regimental of officers' expenses, a uniforms, writer in tho London

Pilot makes the following among other remarks on the subject of uniform :•—" Regiments were formerly the toys of a monarch, toys with which he could play as lie liked, inspecting thorn, marching them about, drilling them, dressing them now this way now that. Also in those days the fact of a uniform being- easily distinguished did not matter on service; campaigns wore fought in a leisurely, gentlemanly mannet, and muskets carried but a hundred yards. Ambiiscados were left to savages. Now that all conditions are changed, now that the Boer war has taught other nations besides ourselves the merits of surprise, concealment, and invisibility, the arguments of war come in to reinforce the prima-facie arguments of common acme, and for all reasons except that of sentiment a gorgeous uniform is seen to he a fatal mistake. (The question as to how far a protty dross assists the recruiting sergeants does not effect us here, as the uniform of officers Is alone j u the question.) Why should a subajtprn of infantry have to pay £7 or £8 lov a tunic, ;>jkl over £4 for a jacket ? Why should a. horse artillery subaltern have to pay from £10 to £75 for one jacket, and £8 oi' £10 for another'/ Why should he have to pay £10 for a busby, over £7 for a sabretasche ? Why over £15 for saddlery, and another £15 for a shabracque? Had we nof, by long custom got to regard such things with'hulifference, tliflir- absurdity would be apparent The end and aim of a soldier is to fight; that Is the objoet of his exisencc. Everything which can mako him efficient as a lighter is good; other things.wUieh do not make-him more efficient as a fighter are at the best useless* If it be argued that his uni« form mofcoft a dazzling show, and thus gratifies the eyes of the populace, the obvloiw/wwpb?'te tliftf $o pojwlaqe"

should pay for it. What other member of the community is called upon to afford gratification to his fellow conntryrnen at his own expense ?"