Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 776, 14 January 1887, Page 22

Agitation is still being kept up at certain points on the West Coast of this island against the time-table on the Foxton and New Plymouth Railway. It is loudly asserted that all local interests are being ruthlessly sacrificed to the “ through ” traffic and “ express ” trains, and the usual well-worn denunciations,are heaped on the head of the tyrant manager, Mr Maxwell, and his subservient chief, Mr Richardson. Now, it is just as well that all this rhodomontade should be condensed into the simple question at issue, which is solely one of pounds shillings and pence. The alterations sought by the malcontents would cost the Colony fully £IO,OOO a year in additional working expenses without bringing in a penny of extra receipts. Is the game worth the candle ? Can the agitators show any good reason why the taxpayers should be called on to pay this extra £IO,OOO a year ? It is all nonsense to say that no expense is involved, arid that if there were the traffic would defray it. There would be no increased traffic. There could be none, for not a soul more would travel than travels now. We are quite aware that it is inconvenient not to have daily trains throughout, but - that is an inconvenience to which a large proportion of the South Island railways have to submit, including even the main line from Invercargill to Kingston. After all it is no very severe hardship to be limited to - three or four days a week for travelling. There are very few country people who would be appreciably incommoded by such a limitation. And for the benefit of the exceedingly select few who would really be inconvenienced is it worth while for the Colony to raise by taxation and. pay away another £IO,OOO per annum ? We can find nothing in any of the arguments brought forward as yet to convince us that this would be at all ustifiable. == ===== =====