THE RAILWAY SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13672, 13 February 1908, Page 5

THE RAILWAY SYSTEM.

STATEMENT -BY PRIME MINISTER. [BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL COBBBSPONDBNT.J Paeroa, Wednesday. I Refekbing to the question of railways in his speech this evening, Sir Joseph Ward said that during his present tour he would give the cost per mil© for the upkeep of our railways. Ha made the assertion that tlie Dominion was spending more in this direction than any other country in. the world. This was because the Government considered that nothing must be allowed to he dangerous to life or limb in connection with them. 'If there was any fault to find with our railways, he considcited it was that we were spending too much on them. Ho could, with one stroke of the pen, if it were a proper thing to do, ensure to the people of this country a return of 10 per cent, per year on the railways, hut he would not do it.

If the Government policy was merely tc get money out of the people, they could do so, instead of handing back a large percentage to them every yeai as they were doing in the shape of reduced rates, etc. If they wanted to take 10 per cent, out of the railways it would be necessary to increase the rates of haulage of wool, timber, coal, meat, sheep, and every other article and product., and also the travelling rates for men and women. That would be looked upon in the eyes of some people as a masterly stroke of policy. He thought that it would be ruinous. When the Main Trunk railway was opened, Paeroa people would be able to travel through to Wellington more cheaply than tho same distance could bo travelled over in. any other part of the'world. (Applause.)