RAILWAY POLICY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 76

RAILWAY POLICY.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 30. “I think we can claim that the policy of the department of popularising the railways is attracting the support of the public,” said Mr F. J. Jones, chairman of the Railways Board, in the course of an interview. Regarding the extension of the use of electric rail carriages on branch lines to cut down expenses. ?/ir Jones said tho board was gathering all the information possible on the whole — subject, and at the present stage he wm not able to make a definite statement. In reply to a question regarding the insituation of a new motor service this year he replied: We are prepared to extend our policy whenever and wherever it is justified, but each date for an ixtem.ion has to be considered carefully on its merits.” Regarding the institution <>f fast passenger services, instead of mi cad trains between Timaru and Ashburton, Mr Jones said that the results so far were only moderate, but the scheme ha 1 net been in operation long . enough yet for full judgment. It was hoped under the scheme to attract back people to ihe railways, and it took time to do that. Tn any case it was hardly fair to make comparisons in traffic, as the new services had born in existence in the holiday jetiod cniy.