POLICY OF BOARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19308, 8 October 1932, Page 19

POLICY OF BOARD

TWO GROUPS OP BRANCH RAILWAYS.

(Special to the “Herald.”) WELLINGTON, October 7.

The policy of the Railways Board in regard to branch lines is defined in the Railways Statement, which has been placed before Parliament. The board has classified the branch lines and isolated sections in two groups—(l) Those which are receiving all the business that is available, but such business is not sufficient in transport value to meet the expenditure involved in working the lines; and

(2) Those which are not receiving all the business of the district owing to the operation of competitive forms of transport. With regard to the first group, the board feels that, even though in ary such district there may be some present deficit on account of the working of the line, the line should not be closed if there is a definite prospect that by its continued operation the development of the district will be such that it may be reasonably anticipated that in the not too remote future the deficit on account of the line may be overtaken. The board desires to make it clear that no decision has yet been come to in this direction, and it submits this clasisflcation at the present stage by way of comment only. With regard to the second group the board feels, with entire justification as far as the people are concerned who are giving their business to the competitive forms of transport, that there can be no justifiable complaint if the line is closed.