RAILWAY POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22165, 19 July 1935, Page 14

RAILWAY POLICY

Unprofitable lines koSE REVIEW TO BE MADE SIAIN ROUTE TRAFFIC BETTER OBLIGATIONS TO PUBLIC A number of the branch railway lines still a cause of some difficulty to ihe Railways Board, according to a Wntement on various aspects of policy Ind recent developments which was issued last night. "The policy of the board during tho mst four years has been one of stimulation of branch line traffic and, where possible, elimination of wasteful competition, thus bringing the lines in Question to a financial position which frill warrant their continued operalion," says the statement. "The board lias always been imbued with a recognition of the paramount importance of ihe railway system as the first line of transport for tho Dominion. It is now poaching a point where a number of Weaknesses which have been the subfeet of constant and close consideration over four years call for further Woso review.

Attitude oi Community p "So long as a community served by in proximity to any section of railway values and uses that railway to Ifche full degree of their capacity the jboard has no ground for complaint fegainst the respective local communities. In such conditions, it is called Jhpon to consider the interests involved Irom the national standpoint.

i "If there is a failure to recognise jlhe value of the railway services to tho ■fcommunity by any district which they hvere designed to serve and the system unprofitably, there then is cast Jbpon the board a responsibility to determine just how far a subsidy, so to ftpeak, from the general taxpayer is teue to a community thus withholding Its full support from the railway System. jt "The board finds with considerable featisfactioh that there is an increasing recognition of its work, and patronpige on the part of the public, both in passengers and goods. It realises in to that a responsibility to modfernise the system to the greatest practical degree, and to afford to the rpublic the greatest convenience in ffcravel and facility in goods despatch. |The recognition of this obligation is more and more apparent the service. I Facilities at Wellington

k V. f "The operation of traffic has been deceiving very close consideration. The Srecent changes announced by the genjeral manager affecting the Central jiNorth Island Main Trunk traffic an,d fthe Wanganui section with changes at Ohakuno are almost complete. The position of superintendent traffic for the Dominion has been paired. The late district traffic manager at Auckland, Mr. G. Wilson, refte6ntly transferred to this post, is now directing from Wellington these interests for the entire system.

"One of the most important railway Jvotks which the board is handling at Jthe present time is that arising out of ifche new station yards and the rearrangement of traffic facilities at (Wellington," the statement concludes. *"Early . transfer of all present traffic tfrom the'Johnsonville line to the Tawa SPlat' Deviation will mark a big adyance in railwaj operation out of {Wellington. In the course of a few teaonths the board should be in a position to make a further statement Effecting the entire situation in Wellington. An advantage will accrue to the Wellington public and railwayrisers generally there by tho transference of the terminal point from ThornBon to Bunny Street, which will bring the railway passenger traffic practically Into the heart of the city of Wellington." & v. ■