RAILWAYS, "AN OLDER BUFFER."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8386, 14 October 1890, Page 3

RAILWAYS, "AN OLDER BUFFER."

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —As the letter of "An Older Buffer " contains some of the grossest misstatements that have yet be.in published on the railway question, it is necessary that I should reply. He says :— 1. That I require passengers to travel "an average distance of at least from 16 to 17 miles," in order to secure an average fare of Is.

2. That it is proposed to carry "an immense number " of passengers " 50 miles or under for 4d, or 100 miles and under for Bd," and that " these passengers now pay from five to twenty times Mr. Vaile's fares."

3. That the present average fare of Is lHd includes revenue derived from " season tickets."

4. That I require an increase of fares as follows :—" 1J for an up to 10 miles, 3 to 1 up to 30, up to 100 miles 6 to 1.

5. That " nothing is said about over 100 miles where there would be nothing but 50-mile feurpenny stages in this province. Indeed, I outside of Pukekolie there would be nothing but I 50-mile fourjKuny stages."

First, let me remark that all the calculations referred to are worked out on the Auckland system of railways. This system is more adverse to me than any other section in New Zealand, because on it there are more of the much-dreaded 50-mile distances in proportion to the short stages. There are two stages of 50 miles, one of 41 miles, and one of 30 miles. This is all the longdistance stages. In reply to No. 1 statement, while I should certainly expect the average distance travelled to largely exceed 17 miles, for purposes of finance • I have never calculated on more than 15 miles. The accountant of the Railway Department, Mr. A. C. Fife, has however conclusively proved that my calculation is safe, for he has shown that without any extension of distance my average fare would be llsd, and twice this sum is Is lljd, the present average fare. Therefore Ido not require the extra two miles.

No. 2 statement. "An Older Buffer," like all the other advocates of the present; no-system, persists in ignoring the facb that I have first as well as second-class fares, and quotes the second-class only. Will he tell me where there is a 100-mile stage for 8d ? There is a 91 mile stage from Frankton to Te Kuiti, and it would bo a grand day for New Zealand if an " immense number could be induced to travel on ib even at Sd only for ».ie 91 miles ; bub does this wonderful " Older Buffer " really imagine that all those people would gob in at Frankton and go right on to Te Kuiti or from Te Kuiti to Frankton ? What; an absurdity. On this stretch c? country there are at least 27 stopping stations. Would no one get in and out at any of these ? It so, why are they there ; and if these stations are made use of, what becomes of the 50 miles for 4d theory ?

The fact is that, except in very rare cases, these fifty mile stages would only be gone over by through travellers, and it would be impossible to pass from one stage to another without paying a second fare. After all, what do these " immense numbers" amount to. I will venture to say that those who now travel oil these 50 mile stages only, do not reach 2, if indeed they reach 1 per cent, of the whole; for all tho travellers of over 50 miles, that is to say all who start from Auckland or any other point to travel more than that distance, do not number 6 per cent, of the whole. So this " Older Buffer" and his friends make agreafc fuss about nothing. No. 3. This is an absolute misstatement of fact. The revenue derived from " season tickets " is nor included.

No. 4. This statement also is untrue. The table on page 87 "An Older Buffer " refers to here and throughout his 'etter, was rejected by the committee. The table on which the calculations are based is on page 89. It shows that I do not require anything like the increases mentioned. No. 5. Was there ever a more monstrous statement made. "Outside Pukekoho" there are to be no first-class travellers, and all are to travel not less than 50 miles, and that must always be from start to finish of a 50-mile stage ; in no case must it be made up of portions of two stages. Outside of Pukekoho there are 68 stopping stations. Is there no trade to be done with these ? if so, why were they built? I expect that by far the larger number of fares taken on these long stages will be 6d for from 5 to 15 miles of travel. I could say a good deal more, but enough has already been said to show how utterly unreliable are the statements of this very interesting "Older Buffer." The reason why my average fare must reach Is is this. None of the long-distance stages start from any considerable centre of population, thus the great bulk of travellers cannot enter upon them without first passing over ono or more of the shorter stages. Mr. Fifestable absolutely proves that my stages have been so arranged as to secure the required financial result. What my opponents constantly forget is the fact that less than 6 per cent, of the fares travel less than 50 miles.—l am, &c., Samuel VAILK. Auckland, October 11, 1890.