MR. VAILE ON VICTORIAN RAILWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9262, 16 January 1889, Page 6

MR. VAILE ON VICTORIAN RAILWAY

MANAGEMENT. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, When I called attention to some of Mr. Vaile's statements, I did not suppose I should convince him (nor did I intend to try to do so) that it was possible he might make a mistake, let alone a misstatement. As I wrote Mr. Speight," instead of the " Railway Commissioners," ho smartly trips me up ; he did nob name Mr. Speight in that sentence, although he did in a former one ; bub as Mr. Speight is tho chief and boss of the Commission, any dispute over the name is but a quibble. Two other points in Mr. Vaile's last I would notice. He intimates that tho Windsor accident was caused by employing a man of little experience and little pay, instead of a man of larger experience and higher pay! I suppose by that only experienced men are to bo employed ; but when they die off, how are their places to be filled Where are the young colonials to get their experience, if not on tho railways of their own country ? And let me further point out that a blunder, followed by a serious accident, will sometimes occur where tho man at fault has had long experience. Tho other point is a statement re the charge for first-class fares. As the bulk of the travelling public do not travel first-class, the particular fares quoted are a secondary matter. But as Mr. Vailo sometimes uses the word " business," it is scarcely necessary to remind him that for rural traffic, wliero there is a considerable travelling population, other methods of conveyance compete with the railways ; and as a matter of " business" the managers of the railways, whether Government or privates, must study the convenience and pockots of the public, find fix tho fares accordingly. But if Mr. Vaile will give the rates charged for long journeys (second class), east, north, west, and south, for the doublo journeys, with liberty to break the journey almost unlimited, except in time, generally four weeks, lie will perhaps show that some consideration is shown to long-distance travellersto the neighbourhood of Cape Otway or Portland Bay on the south and west, to Gippsland on the north-cast, besides to the more settled and better known districts on tho northern and western main lines. —l am, &c, F.C. January 15, 18S9.