FREIGHTS AND FARES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19453, 8 October 1926, Page 14

FREIGHTS AND FARES.

BIG LOSSES ON RAILWAYS. NEW SOUTH WALES LINES. [PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY, Sept. 30. The public, of New Sonth Wales have been warned of the distinct probability of another little "slug" in the form of increased freights and fares, consequent on the big losses on the Government, railways and tramways. These losses are due mainly to increased burdens under awards, the 44-hours week, and tho nonpaying lines, and partly to drought, conditions. With the .causes the public are not greatly concerned. All that is troubling them is tho inevitable, rise in freights and fares. The only alternative is to charge the losses to the general account of tho State, but as the Treasurer, Mr. Lang, has enough troubles to shoulder already he is hardly likely to allow the Commissioners to wipe out their deficit by this airy process. The Government, it ir, safe to say, would be far more delighted to wipe out the present commissioners than to help them to get rid of their losses by putting them, down to the general account. Tho gloomy annual report,, following the recent appalling disaster, has not made the railways an altogether popular instrument of State activity at tho present, time.