CHEAP RAILWAY SCHEME.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3550, 13 February 1886, Page 3

CHEAP RAILWAY SCHEME.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMAKU HERALD. Sib, — In your issue of tho llthinßt., I noticed an effusion from the pen of J. M. Twomey, Temuko, headed " Cheap Railway Scheme," m which ho asks for space to ventilate a scheme which ho has formulated. I aar\ sure every one who has read his letter must lament the loss the colony sustains m not having a man of Mr Twoiney's mental calibre as the right hand supporter of Sir Julius Yogol, because although possessed of such vast information of facts and figures, ho is so very humble always hiding himself behind the object he formulates. And now for a glance at his scheme. Listen, Oh yo electors of Gladstone, it is not cheap money this time, but protection. Mr Twomey says £6,000,000 worth of dutiable articles arrivo m the colony every year, and he would place another 10 per cent on that £6,000,000 to get an extra revenuo of £600,000 a year, and this £600,000 Bhould pay tho interest on tho £12,000,000 borrowed to make the railways. This is his scheme pure and simple ; thus it is obvious he is coming forward as the champion of protection, which means taxing the many for the benefit of the few, or m other words, taxing tho consumer for the benefit of the producor. And for what purpose ? — to lower railway fares. Mr Richardson stated the other day to a deputation which waited upon him at Christchurch that lowering passenger fares had proved a failure. Mr Twomey sees cheap railway freight means aa increase m our local industries and a falling off m imported goods, consequently the revenue derived from the same would be less, and if Mr Twomoy would open his eyes a little wider he would sco his £600,000 swallowed up to meet the deficiency arising from tho falling off m the Customs. There are thousands, sir, who would suffer from an increase m Customs duties who would not beneßt one iota by cheap railway freights. I would recommend Mr Twomey to exercise his versatile mind and formulate some scheme inoro m accordance with the school of modem thought. I tun, &c, A Coi'STßr Lad.