Manawata Daily Times Burden of Branch Lines

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6838, 20 April 1932, Page 6

Manawata Daily Times Burden of Branch Lines

The announcement a few days ago by the Railways Board that notwithstanding economies introduced last year amounting to over £90,000 the branch lines in the Dominion showed a loss for the financial year of £577,000 is a little disquieting, and shows just how heavily the taxpayer has to suffer for the reckless building of political railways in the past.

Of the total loss revealed £175,824 is on the operating of the lines, the balance being for interest charges. These figures certainly show an improvement, owing to economy adjustments, upon those for the financial year 1930-01, when branch lines cost the country £782,299, the actual working loss being £203,604. The loss, however, remains so substantial that the board can scarcely be blamed if it takes the view that in the existing circumstances, and in view of the financial position of the railways, it must further curtail expenditures by reducing, and in some cases eliminating, non-paying branch line services.

Many branch lines have, to a large extent, fulfilled the purposes for which they were constructed. Their developmental value in opening up country for settlement was very considerable, but the railways no longer form the only link in transport between the farmer and his export market. The farming community was not slow to transfer its allegiance from the railways when the improvement of roads and the advent of motor vehicles offered the opportunity to it. First the passenger traffic suffered heavily, but in recent years motor transport facilities for farm produce have robbed the railways of a great deal of profitable freight, while leaving them to carry farming necessaries, such as fertilisers, under the liberal concessions that are allowed.

It should scarcely be necessary to emphasise that, if farmers are now in imminent danger of losing branch line services, they are themselves to some extent to blame. The farmer is free to decide whether he should send his produce by motor or by railway services, but he must not expdfet to enjoy the best of both. If his decision is, as it appears to be, in favour of motor transport, the railway services may have to be discontinued. It would be hardly reasonable to expect the general body of the taxpayers to make good a deficit of some £200,000 a year incurred in the operation of railways which benefit a comparatively small proportion of the people and are inadequately supported.

The payment of the interest charges on capital expenditure on branch lines must necessarily be continued. That is the price which the railways exact for their developmental work in the past. The Railways Board has made clear its attitude toward unprofitable branch lines, and rural communities must make a practical choice. It is for. them to decide whether they shall utilise the railways or rely on motor transport. Two considerations should not be overlooked when this decision is made. Branch railways, when they become idle, will still have to be paid for indirectly, and there is no guarantee that the cost of motor transport will remain at present levels when the services are freed from competition..

Te Aute Maori College will play its annual football match against Palmerston North Boys’ High School at the Manawatu Winter Show again this year, and will bring the Moasear Cup with it.

Amended conditions for the issue of trout-fishing licenses have been made by an Order-in-t Hindi. It is provided that a singlo license to uso a rod and line may bo issued to cover every acclimatisation district in the Dominion with tho exception of certain areas at Rotorua and Taupe,

Kindly consideration for the lot of tho “swagger” during the winter months prompted the Eketahuna, Borough Council, at its monthly meeting, to arrange to ■ have an old motor garage in. the town whitewashed, equipped with a window and iron chimney, and made into what will be a comfortable shelter for tho “men on the road” on a.wet night.

Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure For Children’s Hacking Cough.