The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY, OCT. 24, 1919. OUR RAILWAYS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11929, 24 October 1919, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY, OCT. 24, 1919. OUR RAILWAYS.

WHEN Sir Julius Yogei, who was Premier and Colonial Treasurer nearly halt a century ago, introduced the first great borrowing policy in New Zealand, his chief object was to open up the country by railroads and promote settlement. At that time the South Island held first position, and to it attention was chiefly directed. Since then, however, the North Island has far distanced the South in progress, and its prosperity has been much greater. Its products far exceed those of the South in volume and value, while its population has increased so much more that it lias, on the population basis,'taken from the South three seats in the Legislature. The North has, however, cause of complaint in connection with the railways, Decause, though its lines are the more profitable in their working, it has very much less railway mileage, and requires a great deal more to enable it to work its lands and serve its people more efficiently. The relative position of the two islands in railway matters has recently been engaging the attention of the Auckland Railways League, and Mr Cheal, its chairman, has supplied the following interesting statement; — During the period from 1878 to 1919, the mileage construction in the j3outh Island considerably exceeded that in the North. Starting with 755 miles of railways in 1878, the total mileage of the South Island railways at March 31st, 1919, was 1714. In 1878, the North Island had a railway mileage of 318, and at March 31st last this had increased to 1269. The net revenue of the South Island railways for the 30 years, ended March 31st, 1907, exceeded that of the North Island by £4,620,66?, but at the expiry of the 12 years, ended March 31, 1919, the revenue from the North Island Tines was nearly £3,000,000 in excess of that of the South Island lines, making a total excess earned by the North Island during that period of over £7,000,000. Referring to the disparity in mileage between the North and South Islands, Mr Cheal said that no Government in the past had tried to equalise it, and the political leaders of to-day seemed to be no more inclined to do justice to the North than had their predecessors. . The League should make a determined attempt to obtain equal railway mileage for the North

Island before the allocation of any further loans by the Government, and should be satisfied with nothing less than the proper provision of adequate railway facilities for the North Island on a revenue basis. He emphasised that the excess railway revenue in the North Island should be utilised to provide for increased construction in the North, where immense development was taking place. The effort to secure the further development of the North Island railways should be supported by every northern Chamber of Commerce and local body.