RAILWAY POLICY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21544, 16 January 1932, Page 10

RAILWAY POLICY.

The latest returns relating to the working of the railways are indicative of a certain financial improvement that has been brought about by the institution of economies. There has been a considerable diminution of revenue as compared with the previous year, but this has been offset by the substantial reductions effected in expenditure. The returns for the four weeks ended on December 5 show a slightly better position in point of net revenue than those for the corresponding period of 193.0. Yet the gross revenue for these four weeks showed a relative decline to the extent of nearly £.75,000. Particularly desirable would be evidence of a check to this continuous shrinkage in the railway earnings, for as long as the diminution goes on there can only be expectation of the institution of further curtailments and economies to meet the situation and maintain the balance as between revenue and expenditure, The Railways Board’s circulars to various local authorities have been intended to act as a reminder to the districts concerned that the position of a number of lines is giving the Board considerable concern, and that unless something can be done to bring about improved returns curtailments or stoppages of services may have to be seriously considered. Among the lines which have come under review is the Otago Central Railway, and the residents of the extensive district that is affected are naturally perturbed at the thought of what may be in store for them. Unfortunately the loss upon this line has lately been an increasing quantity. For the last three successive years it was respectively £74,662, £83,528 and £90,802. A result of this nature is one which the Railways Board, in the interests of the taxpayers as a whole, is not disposed to regard as satisfactory. The fact cannot be disguised that the increasing loss is largely due to the diversion of patronage from the railway to the road, this applying to passengers and goods alike. In these circumstances the Railways Board seems disposed to throw upon the residents of Central Otago the onus of making their choice between the railway and the road services. If there cannot be a restoration of traffic to the railway, the alternative may be presumed to be a curtailment of the facilities which it provides. The position will no doubt be the subject of considerable local discussion. The people of Central Otago would doubtless feel aggrieved were the Railways Board to mark down for curtailment the services to which they have become accustomed, but in so far as they have been travelling by road and making use of road transport they have helped to bring such a possibility in sight. And if they are to retain the present railway facilities it is evident that they must support the railway to an extent which a great many of them are not doing at the present time. That any really convincing case can be made out for the exemption of the Otago Central line from the operations of the policy of the Railways Board, so far as it is directed to a reduction of the expenditure on unprofitable lines, it is difficult to see. The loss on the running of the line has been so considerable that the Board could hardly fail to take cognisance of it and, by drawing pointed attention to the position, to seek to promote in the district concerned a movement which, by ensuring greater local support for the railway, would obviate the necessity for any drastic action on its part in the interests of economy. The railways are of course the property of the people, and it. is no more than a reasonable suggestion that they should receive popular support in the public interest. In all localities there are settlers who are glad to use the railways when they bring to them needful commodities at nominal charges, but, when it comes to freighting their produce elsewhere, employ the road services. Such an attitude plays its part in giving rise to the necessity which now confronts the people of different districts of deciding whether they will give their support to the railway or to the road services. They cannot expect to go on enjoying indefinitely the luxury of choosing, without consideration of the consequences, between two competitive forms of transport.,. The issue rests largely with themselves.