RAILWAY LOSSES FEARED

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1929, Page 9

RAILWAY LOSSES FEARED

“TEMERITY” OF GOVERNMENT. Sympathy with the general manager of railways in the difficult task he had in trying to make the railways pay was expressed by the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr. E. Salmond) on Tuesday night. Mr. Salmond said he was surprised that the Government should undertake additional railway construction which would still further increase the loss to be met by the taxpayers. The president referred to the recent Railways Statement, which he eaid showed a very solid deficit to be borne by the taxpayer. He expressed sympathy with the general manager and staff in the extremely difficult job they had in trying to make the railways pay, especially considering the intense competition from motor traffic. It was noticed that the general manager drew particular attention to the fact that so many people were using motor-cars instead of the railways as they were more mobile, and after perusing the statement he was struck with the temerity of the Government in going ahead with the construction of further railways, which would simply go to swell the loss to be borne by the taxpayers. Ho suggested that by the time the South Island railway was completed, not only would the railways be getting competition from motor-cars, but they would certainly bo getting competition from the air. Young people and commercial travellers generally would travel by air if they had the opportunity. Old-fashion-ed people would probably still use th.e ferry service, but the chamber was at a loss to know who would use the main trunk service. Mr. S. A. Longuet referred to the cheap transit afforded to the farming community of numerous goods, and said he thought the railways would pay if run on strictly commercial lines. ;