The Railways and “Commercial Principles”

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7270, 25 July 1893, Page 2

The Railways and “Commercial Principles ”

The Bailway Commissioners in their annual report make the following observat ions on the application of “ commercial principles” in the management of the railways ; It is desirable to make some remarks on the aims of and the position attained by the railway administration, for which the Commissioners are responsible to Parliament, daring the four years of their office ending last financial year. It has frequently happened that the Commissioners have been pursued by demands that they should manege the railways on “ commercial principles ” —a phrase which is very ambiguous. This idea is one of the abandoned theories of a past generation. Legislation in the United Kingdom, United States, all the nations of the Continent of Europe, Canada, and the South American Bepublics, has for the last quarter of a century been in the direction of compelling the railway companies to adopt principles in railway management which are opposed to the practices of commerce : there is no proper analogy between the exchange of goods and the performance jf the duties of a railway carrier. To. give equality of treatment to all persons using the railways under similar conditions, and to give uniformity of charges, baa been the direct tendency of nearly all modern railway legislation. * The processes known to commercial men, the essence of whose business lies in bargaining, are almost entirely condemned by all the civilised nations of the world as applied to charges for railway services ; and commercial practice as a rule is regarded as inapplicable to railway management. The Commissioners have endeavoured to conform to the spirit of the age, believing that the railways should be worked for assisting the development of the resources of the colony, rather than in a narrower commercial spirit which has in view the exaction of the utmost farthing from the prodnoer. In pursuing this coarse they have also been guided by the Government Hallways Act, in which Parliament has laid down that they shall give due consideration to the promotion of settlement and the encouragement of industries.

On these grounds they have made it one of their chief objects to reduce rates and charges affecting colonial productions and industries extensively. The extent to which this has been done is shown in return D.-24, presented to Parliament during last session, and in the returns attached to the annual reports. That this principle ’ has been applied prudently and advantageously is shows by the progressive character of the railway traffic and revenue.

The average results of fche four years preceding the control of the Commissioners, and of the four years of their administration, are summarised in the figures following : Average for four years, Eevenue. Expenses. 1886 to 1890 ... .£1,009,661 £680,946 1890 to 1893 .. 1,158,556 705,537 Increase ... £118,895 £24,591 An average of 110 miles more railway has been worked during the latter four years. The capital has been increased by £1,260.283, and the interest earned on the capital has increased from £2 12s to £3 Is per cent. While the revenue shows this satisfactory average growth, the increase in the average expenditure has been insignificant, and contradicts the erroneous statements which have been made, charging the Commissioners with extravagance. A return furnished to the order of the House of last session shows that the salaries paid by the Commissioners of £2OO a year and upwards in 1892 amounted to £41,662 ; in 1889, when they took office, the corresponding amount was £41,509, which indicates that care has been taken not to increase the cost of administration.

Concurrently with the lowered charges, improved revenue, and economical administration, the Commissioners are able to show beyond doubt that the railways are better, the carriage and wagon stock accommodation is more extensive and convenient, and that the engine and brake powers are greater and better adaped to the traffic than when they took office. The time-tables also have been very materially improved and the train-time* quickened on all the larger sections. The great improvements effected during late years in railway working and appliances in Europe and America have made it desirable in the interests of the colony that facilities should be afforded to the chief railway officers for personally studying them. During the past year the Commissioners made* arrangements to give their locomotive superintendent and chief engineer the necessary opportunity, and they anticipate that tbe visit of these officers will be productive of much good in tbe colonial railway administration.