RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 12

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Sir—The remarks of your correspondent "Hoani," with reference to the value of railways generally certainly do not appear to be applicable to the South Island gap construction between Wharanui and Parnassus. While it is impossible to make a thorough survey as the result of one's personal observations in only four or five days, I think I may claim to have at least belter qualifications than some for pronouncing the value of this line. I am interested in New Zealand as a business proposition, and tha suggestion that the nature of the country traversed by 76 miles of railroad costing over £30,000 a mile is a matter of no importance, is to me past undeistanding. If, however, the districts t-o be linked had 110 outlet, or if they were particularly profitable, there might be some support lor your correspondent's contention; but when the whole of the railways in the South Island can yield only 0.60 per cent, of revenue on capital cost, against the North Island 1.55 per cent., and the loss on the Picton section itself is £l5O a anile per annum, I think the position is farcical in the extreme and the continuation of such a policy is nothing short of a public scandal, and should be resisted to the utmost by every thoughtful person. N. G. Giubhle.