THE RAILWAY SERVICE

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 65

THE RAILWAY SERVICE

FARMERS’ COMPLAINTS VENTILATED. WELLINGTON, January 24. Attention was drawn at to-day’s meeting of the Farmers’ Union Executive to [ho high railway charges, speakers quoting Taranaki, where dairy produce was charged for at the rate of 11s id per ton, over 19 miles, compared with a pre-war charge of 5s sd’ The chairman (Mr W. J. Poison) said the more one saw of the' railways the • more one realised that the management was ridiculous. and deplorable. Apart from cargo, passengers were riot using the railways, and fleets of motor cars were competing successfully against them. He said a huge motor service ran between Marion and Wanganui because one train that was feeding the Main Trunk arrived a few minutes after the express had departed, and the return Train left for Wanganui a few minutes before the express arrived. It was time that a big noise was made about railway management Concrete instances should be collected and the case based on them. The Government was improving these roads to allow better motor competition with the Government railways. Mr Lynch said lorries were not only beating the trains in trade but in time. Mr Matheson argued that better manage, ment and brains were necessary. He would like to see suggested some concrete reform. Mr Marshall said the absurd anomaly was that the railways had to keep up an expensive permanent way, with thousands of men, while thd competing motor traffic only, replaced the tyres on its vehicles, and the people of the dominion maintained the roads which the private lorries smashed to pieces. If the lorry owners had to repair the roach they would never compete with the railways. Mr Chadwick suggested that local bodies should be asked to tax the lorries. The Chairman said that this would be cutting their own throats. It oame to the same thing. They paid for the roads and reaped the benefit in decreased fares. What was wanted was a more attractive railway service, and then they would reap a greater benefit The services of motors, said Mr Dalrymple, had come to stay, but' this country was in a different position from England or America. The officials knew only the New Zealand railways, and they did not know enough. It was decided to collect facts regarding the anomalies of the railway service, and again discuss the matter. Mr Duxfield said the big question was whether the roads or the railways should, be concentrated upon. The Chairman said he did not want to, condemn the Government, but ho thought* the service had drifted and was out of date, and did not cater for the public.