BRANCH RAILWAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21247, 29 July 1932, Page 13

BRANCH RAILWAYS

Sir, —Your correspondent, " Dominion Welfare," in replying to my previous letter, stated that I forget the wonderful strides both Waiuku and Taneatua have made since the coming of the railway. Having lived in the former district for 10 years before the coming of the rail I have no hesitation in stating that this particular district went ahead long before the line was laid. In visiting this part of the country a few we®ks ago one was surprised to note how little further advance, other than the usual advance common

with other parts of the Dominion, has been made even with the inception of the line. Huge sums of money having been spent on an enterprise is no justification for tho continuing of that enterprise, "Dominion Welfare ' living in another age would have advocated the retaining of the stage coach because of the amount of money invested in coaches and horses. Money for cars, especially trucks, no longer goes to foreign countries but to England, assisting the British workmen to buy our products. There is no doubt that once the railway obtains the monopoly the residents of the above districts will have to pay more for their transport. Motors in these districts are now providing cheaper transport and In addition employing more labour. The chairman of the Thames Harbour Board has also recently pointed out that the monopoly, once obtained by the Railway Board, will reflect in higher charges for all. " Dominion Welfare ' seems to forget that motorists in New Zealand are already paying £2,245,000 a year in taxes, which is contributing to the upkeep of tho railways. I am of opinion, knowing a great many of the farmers in these districts, that the great majority of them would rather have the cheaper and more mobile transport of the motor, which does far more toward opening up the country than the railway ever did. Taneatua and WAiuKtr.