CORRESPONDENCE BUILDING THE RAILWAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18181, 31 August 1933, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

BUILDING THE RAILWAY

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir,—Some time ago the Railway Committee had published m your columns a statement to prove that the Gisborne-Napier railway, when constructed, would be a commercially payable proposition. Before using \ » data again it would be advisable for h committee to verify the figures give _ In the interview with the aetingPrime Minister, Mr Ransom, the Chamber of Commerce representative estimated the revenue froin the Gisbon end of the line at about > additional revenue from the const c tion of the 55 miles north of Waiko kopu averages the very high figme o £4171 per mile. The average revenue from eight North Island lines amounts to £564 per mile. .. Taking tho earnings of th e 97 miles from Napier to Waikokopu at £4W mile, the official estimate for the lsk-dale-Wairoa section, it would total £3B 800 The combined total earnings for’the 152 miles would thus be £184,800. .. ’. ht The working expenses on the cigh North Island lines averages £7BB pel mile. Assuming that the Napier-Cis-borne line would run out at tins average, the working expenses tor the mite would be about £104,W0. Deducting this from the estimated gross revenue leaves £BO.BOO which would pav interest at about 4A per cent, on the £1,800.000 still required to complete the line to Gisborne. P The Hon. J. G. Coates is reported to have stated that the Napier-dsborne line was a 4 per cent, investment and our Railway Committee considered it would pay handsomely- Actually, lrom the figures given herein, the investment Shows a return of about 1 per cent on the £7,000.000 spent and to be spent on the railway from Napier to Gisborne.— Yours, etc., p ATT E,RSON.

RELIEF WORKERS’ PROBLEM

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir,—lt is to be hoped that some speaker at the citizens’ meeting this evening will touch upon the rebel workers’ problem. It is admitted that hardship obtains both upon landlord and tenant in many cases, but common humanity should cause even a hardpushed landlord to pause before taking out eviction orders. 1 [The correspondent proceeds to quote a specific case, the facts of which he vouches for, in which a young couple had got into arrears when the wife had to go to a maternity home, and who were served with notice of eviction. The husband! naturally refused to leave until the wife returned home and recovered. The couple had received two visits from a sympathetic official, who was assured that Hie house would bo vacated as soon as possible. The earnings of tho husband) on relief work are £1 17s fid, one week out of which he paid 18s for rent, and 15s for the sustenance week, out of which he paid 10s]. This is not intended as a personal attack, but as a sample of the relief workers’ troubles. —Yours, etc., SAM J. PEARSON.

/BEAUTIFY THE TOWN (To. the Editor of the Herald.) Sir,—l wish to correct a wrong Impression regarding tree planting. Kaiti Hill is really a dream come true. 1 love all trees, and birds, in every nook and corner, and encourage both. In the grandest places in the world you will find a broad sweeping entrance, whether it be city or palace. Hie first impressions remain, then the beauty of the different parts open up gradually. My suggestion years ago re beach improvements was an avenue of trees right to the beach. 1 hate to see trees cut down, and put up a battle lor them too. I referred to the town part only.—Yours, etc., RATEPAYER.