The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1907. A NECESSARY PURCHASE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 268, 13 November 1907, Page 4

The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1907. A NECESSARY PURCHASE.

The Manawatu Railway purchase is undoubtedly a necessity in conjunction with the Main Trunk system from Auckland to Wellington. The acquirement of this propeity is estimated to cost the country a cool million. But as that is approximately the value of the permanent way and rolling stock alone, the directors may have other ideas as to what the price shoxild be. It will remain for the arbitrators to decide the point; meanwhile it will be necessary, in the interests both of the present owners and the intending purchasers, as well as the users of the system, to see that the line is not allowed to deteriorate in any respect during the next twelve months. If this be permitted, the price should be affected thereby, the Government paying a less figure in consideration of the expenditure required to restore the line to its proper condition. The purchase should not prove an unprofitable speculation for the country, seeing that the traffic earnings of the railway are over £60,000 per annum, which would give a 6 per cent, return, presuming the property can be obtained for a million. But under Government management the returns may not be so extensive. Companies are notoriously indifferent to public opinion, having •'neither soul to be saved nor body to be kicked." Their mission is solely to earn dividends, and freight and passenger charges on the .one hand, and expenditure on the other, are so regulated as to furnish profits, irrespective of other considerations. A Government, however, has a very keen appreciation of the desires of voters, and under the new system a radical, change in management may be expected, which may not result in such profitable working as under company rule. So that to look for a return of 6 per cent, upon the capital invested may be a too sanguine expectation. A very, large benefit will arise from the purchase in another way. The Rimutaka line will be relieved of a considerable amount of expensive haulage, which will be .diverted to the western line, the Government having hitherto carried goods at unprofitable rates over the mountain, in opposition to the company. Traffic will now go along its ordinary channels, to the benefit of all concerned, and a corresponding adjustment of the differential rates now in force may be expected. There is another privately-owned line running out of Foxton and intersecting the rich country to the south of Palmerston and Feilding, terminating at the Rangitikei River. This line is owned by the Manawatu County Council. A movement has been for some time on foot to persuade the Government to purchase this line, and to extend it to Levin in the one direction, and Greatford in the other, a few miles only being required each way to make these connections. This would give a more direct course for the Auckland express to Wellington, besides linking up at each end a short line at present incomplete. Possibly the Government intentions are to acquire this line when they take over the larger one. It appears to be a necessity in order to complete the system.