LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 82, 2 December 1912, Page 5

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

(To the Editor “Stratford Post.”) Sir, —In view of the favourable consideration now being given to light railway construction by the Minister for Public Works, the experience of tne West Australian Government in this direction will no doubt be interesting. Amongst the Australian States, Western Australia has been in the lead in the construction of light railways, and the following is an extract from the report of the railway commissioner of that State. “Tlie cost of wording duo to the character of the construction of these so-called cheap railways, is, however the most adverse condition to their becoming profitable propositions. Cheap railway construction means step grades, light rails and sleepers, insufficient ballast, defective drainage, and omission of water supply, and these conditions involve in turn small loads, limited speed, excessive maintenance, costs, and haulage of water. Under such conditions economical and efficient transport is an impossibility. The policy which, dictates them is akin to that which saves money in the building of a house by providing insufficient foundations. Subsequent improvement inevitably becomes necessary, and can only be effected as patch work and at a cost far exceding that which would have been involved had it been carried out as part of the original construction. Defective location of the line and consequent heavy grades can only be remedied at the cost of rebuilding.” Nothing could be much more condemnatory of light railway construction, and while that which applies to Western Australia may not apply to light railway construction in parts of Xo\v Zealand, it behoves the Government to make progress slovylv in this direction. To my way of thinking, the initial cost of a. railway should not he the prime consideration, as a larger outlay at the commencement of construction may mean—as is evidently the opinion of the West Australian commissioner—lesser working and maintenance costs thereafter. Although we are anxious for additional railways in parts of Taranaki, and some of us would accept light railways without question, due caution is necessary that Wo may not .regret our decision in the future. —I am, etc., W. P. KIRKWOOD. Stratford, December 2, 1912,