RAILWAY CUT.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14728, 5 August 1921, Page 4

RAILWAY CUT.

THE SAVING ANTICIPATED.

AFFECT ON SCHOOL ATTENDANCES.

(Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 5. Details of the amended railway time-table will bo announced in the various districts this Aveek.

In reply to a criticism that’ the reduction in the daily trains would bo a serious business for school children, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Raihvays ) states that the requirements of school children had been very fully considered by the Government before reduction in the services was finally approved. The Department was doing its best to reduce interference Avith education a minimum. There were cases where the withdrawal of trains used by children attending schools could not be avoided, but he was satisfied that the least possible inconvenience was being inflicteu upon I the young people.

The saving to be effected, up to the end of November, by the reduction of the services, is estimated at £IOO,OOO, or at the rate of roughly £350,000 a year. Recent returns show that th e traffic is still declining, and the Department cannot know when this decline Avill be checked. These reductions of the service will involve some loss of revenue, though probably not very much, since the traffic will tend to accommodate itself to the new time-table. It is not anticipated that the 'amended time-table will in- i volve a reduction of the railway staff. It Avill involve some reduction in the earnings of the railwaymen, sine© the amount. of overtime Avorked on many lines will b e very much reduced. The savings will consist largely of reduced oonsump- [ tion of coal and stores, and reduced f Avear and tear. The reduced train mileage will mean reduced maintenance charges and other savings.