NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6882, 7 December 1883, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It is not my inteation to carry on a Jong controversy with Air. S. Vaile, the Press having already ably shown the fallacy of his ideas. His remark, "No railway experience is required," is simply ridiculous. I never ignore the commercial element, indeed I value it materially, having had for some years daily intercourse at home with manufacturers, merchants, and others of every capacity, not only in South Staffordshire, but Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, and regularly meetmg them on the "Exchange." Still I don't claim so through a knowledge of any particular business or profession as the one whose avocation it may be. Mr. S. Vaile charges me with " mere assertion." What ia his pet ticket scheme but assamption. For Mr. S. Vaile's edification I convey to him a fact. Some years ago the London and North Western Railway, and the Great Western Bailway Companies in England, ran passenger trains in competition at an average fare of something like in his extraordinary reform scheme, resulting in a loss of nearly a quarter of a million of money in a short time, notwithstanding all the advantages of t§B great number of passengers carried, Tow working expenses, and experienced and good disciplined staff. Mr. S. Vaile, so far, has failed to show the "necessary qualification to deal with so laige a question." He evidently estimates me as a cipher, and. would have me (after my seventeen years of successful railway aud water works) to bow to his theory. Although he is much my senior in age, he is a mistaken man. My views are to assist in improving our railway system, and I think that the wisest plan would have been for Mr. S. Vaile to first communicate with the manager of the railways here, Auckland, soliciting his support in laying the matter before the general manager at Wellington, and if no satisfactory result was obtained he could have after* ward placed it before the public. However, he did not think fit to act so, but as a champion rusbed to print, expecting everybody to agree with him. 1 hope some time to publish a pamphlet showing how- the home railways are managed, which may.be.of utility to the colony. I will at the same time fairly criticise Mr. S. Vaile's reform measnre.—l am, &c., D. Griepiths. Auckland, Deeember sth, 1883.