EVENTS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5728, 25 October 1905, Page 4

EVENTS OF THE DAY.

RAILWAY COMPARISONS. There was in the House of Representatives last night ranch comparing of Hie railways of this country with those of Now South AA ales. Sir AA illiain Russell, upon whom the. railways of this country have much the same effect as the head of Ring Charles had. upon a certain famous character of fiction, made the most comprehensively doleful of all tho speeches on the silijoct. Mileage, ratio of expenditure io revenue, interest on cost of construction—on nil these points he proclaimed the inferiority of Now Zealand; and the incidental book-keeping came in for tho customary slap, together with the .shrinkage of revenue. It is, of course, well understood that tho slight shrinkage last year was exceptional, duo to tho temporary falling-oil in the sheep export, and tho lateness of tho season. This ought to ho remembered in all comparisons with tho outside world. It was urged, in reply to criticisms, that tho railways of New South Wales arc complete, and have reached their full earning capacity; while ours are in ihe development stage, running into large tracts o£ unsettled country, with revenues largely deferred. All this is well enough as a reply, hut it is fur from enough. The main difference between tho two railway systems was ignored by both sides to the controversy. That difference is one of policy. Here, with tho unanimous consent of the House, the net profit of tho railways is kept down to i> per cent. In Now South Wales they make all they can. Hence, in the mutters of revenue, not ■profit, expenditure ratio, and tho whole of tho financial data, comparison between the two systems is misleading. That members of .'parliament should resort to it. in spite of their r'cady acceptance of the 3 per cent. limit is incomprehensible. -Our railways are doing very well, and no unfair comparison can hurt them. ~ N-

“OUR NATIA’F-BORN,” It is not to- he- expected that colonists whoso birth-place u;as England will rejoice as heartily as native-born New Zealanders at tho wonderful succession of victories the Now Zealand team of Rugby footballers is achieving "on British grounds. So regular and decisive nave the results been so far that tho question now asked is not “ AVho won?” bub “How many points did we win by?” A correspondent whoso letter appears on page 5 raises an interesting point in asking how many of tho Now "Zealand team now in England are native horn. It is conceivable that had there been any basis for our correspondent’s implication that a proportion of our players ‘were immigrants from the country they are now defeating, the contests could not be taken as a fair test of tho relative skill, combination, and physique of the two countries. Inquiry made from those who ought to know resulted in information as surprising ns it was pleasing. Every member of tho team, without excoptiou, was horn in New Zealand. AA’e append the names of members of tho team and the places in which they wore horn, with tho request that if any reader knows positively of ah error being made wo wouid he glad if he would communicate with us, so that wo may correct it- Our “ native-born ” are;—G. Gillett (Auckland), S. Casey (Dunedin), D. McGregor (Canterbury), A. McDonald (Dunedin), F. Roberts (AA’ellington), E. T. Harper (Canterbury), J. O'Sullivan (Taranaki), C. Seeling (Wanganui), R. G.. Deans (Canterbury), AV- Johnston (Dunedin), G. N. W. Nicholson (Auckland), J. Corbett (AA’ost Coast), AV. Cunningham (Auckland), F. Newton (Canterbury), H. L. Abbott (Auckland), AV. J. Wallace (Wellington), G. A. Tyler (Auckland), D. Gallahcr, captain (Canterbury), J. W. i Stead (Invercargill), AV. Mackrell (Auckland)., P. Glasgow (Wellington), W. S. Glenn (Taranaki), J. Hunter (Taranaki), 11. J. Mynott (Taranaki). G. AV. Smith (Auckland or Hawke’s Bay), E. B. Booth (North Otago), H. D. Thomson (Napier). Even “Jimmy” Duncan, tho trainer, is Duncdin-hom, but it is with a certain pang of regret that wo hnvo to admit that the manager, Mr G. H. Dixon, was horn in Yorkshire, though he has had a long training in New Zealand.