PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15912, 8 May 1915, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

The Minister for Public Works is satisfied that he can carry on the business of his department in spite of the war. This is good news, but it would be better news if the departmental policy were sounder and more progressive. Mr. Fraser may understand the meaning of this criticism if he refers to the latest returns of railway earning and expenditure. For the four weeks which ended on March 31 the railway returns were exemplary of the invariable character of these instructive figures. They showed: Earnings— 1239 Northern miles £205,000 Per milo £166 1706 Southern miles £176,000 Per milo £104 Expenses 1-239 Northern miles ... ... £130,000 Per mile , £112 1706 Southern miles ..' ... £114,000 Per milo £66 PROFIT PER MALE— ' Korth Island ... £51 South Island £38 From this " profit," interest on cost of construction has to be paid. The South Island railways do not earn enough to pay this interest, which is largely provided by the squeezing of tho North Island lines. A large reduction in freight and passenger rates could be made if the South Island lines were generally profitable ; as things are every customer of the railways has to pay heavily for the Public Works policy which has pampered the South. The Heraxd claims that no Public Works policy is sound which does not develop the great unsettled areas of the North Island and cease squandering money on worthless Southern lines., Many millions of pounds could be profitably and advantageously spent on railway construction in the North Island—upon completing the East Coast line and opening the Urewera Country; upon completing the Stratford-Auckland connection and opening the King Country; upon completing the North Auckland system; and upon other developmental enterprises— no government has yet grasped the fact that thereby the population, wealth, revenues and opportunities of the Dominion ' would be greatly increased to the universal advantage.