RAILWAY RETURNS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13847, 8 March 1909, Page 4

RAILWAY RETURNS.

'Writing about the question of the net returns Ironi th» railways a short time ago, we pointed out the desirability of publishing the returns from the several sections of main line and branches, not so fully as was done some years ago, when the practice was to publish details for every station. This is quito unnecessary; all that is needed is the section and branch returns. The detailed return was too expensive; but the Department went to the other extreme in cutting it off altogether. A case, in point is furnished in a paragraph in Friday's " Ashburton Guardian," as follows;—"At a mooting of the Mount Hutt Road Board on Monday, the statement recently made by the Minister for Railways, to the effect that the ordinary -train service on the McLhven branch line had in the past been, maintained at a loss to the. Department, was discussed by the members. It was unanimously decided that the clerk should write . the Minister' to furnish a return showing the receipts and expenditure on the 'Metliven line for a period of five years, in order to allay the doubts which exist as 'to the correctness of ' the statement." Similar doubts have been expressed about statements made concerning the Fairlie branch. The settlers are to have an opportunity of seeing the Minister to-morrow, and they will do well to urge that as a matter of general interest information of the. kind to be. asked for by the Mount llutt Road Board should be supplied in an annual return covering the whole, country. There is an enormous amount of printing done by the Government Departments now, which is of little or no use to anyone. A return such as is suggested would be of great use to the general public, and Lo members of J'a rlia wont.