DEPRESSED RAILWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1930, Page 11

DEPRESSED RAILWAYS

MANY REMEDIES PROPOSED. SYDNEY TALKS LOWER FARES. Railways in Australia, as in New Zealand, have difficult times. Differential freights against road-using firms have become an issue in Victoria as here. It was recently announced in Melbourne: In pursuance of their policy of refusing to carry at reduced rates goods consigned by, or to, persons who refuse to undertake to refrain from using road transport, the Victorian Railways Commissioners publish to railway employees a list of firms in business at various country towns which have refused to give the undertaking. The commissioners instruct employees to charge the firms full rates for goods such as firmwood, manure, grain, and other goods, upon which reduced rates might be granted. “It will be necessary,” the commissioners state, “to keep a sharp look-out and to report immediately if any of the firms against whom the bylaw is being enforced are obtaining, through agents or others, low-rated goods which have been conveyed by rail, in order that suitable action may be taken by the general passenger and freight agent.”

In New South Wales someone suggested .reducing railway fares to meet competition, whereupon a Sydney writer observed: The Chief Railway Commissioner (Mr. Cleary) says that there will be no reduction of railway fares until the deficit has been liquidated. There are citizens who say that the deficit would be more speedily disposed of if fares were reduced and passengers were attracted to the railways. Mr. Cleary may eventually adopt that view. He has some evidence of the wisdom of so doing. Fares were reduced not long ago on a section of the tramways on the Manly side of the harbour, and the improved results were such as to induce a reduction on another section. Bus proprietors are in conference on the same subject. They wish to give the public the benefit of the 48-hour week now operating in place of the 44-hour week, and a reduction of bus fares may be looked for. It is not clear that they can reduce the fare for the first stage of a journey, which is 2d. It is reasonable enough to be charged 2d. for a ride from, say, Central Station to Darlinghurst, but the through run to Bondi might be given a lessened fare. “It is something to be pleased about,” say regular users, “that reduced fares are even talked of.” The tramways must follow suit, and Mr. Cleary, noting the improved takings, may then bring the railways into line.