THE RAILWAY REFORM MOVEMENT.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 346, 25 July 1885, Page 2

THE RAIL WAY REFORM MOVEMENT.

It is sincerely to be hoped that the present movement to effect a reform in our railway management will be attended with success. Ifc will certainly not be Mr Jas. Adams' fault if it is not at all events. That gentleman has been indefatigable in his efforts to obtain signatures to the petition to Parliament, as may be imagined when it is remembered that nearly four thousand names appear on the petition, a formidable document 36 feet in length! Amongst all classes Mr Adams

found a lively interest manifested in the movement ; all sorts and conditions of men were unanimous in their condemnation of the ■evils complained of in the petition, and were agreed that something must be done, and that speedily, to put an end to the wretched bungling and shameful mismanagement that haveso long characterised railway government in New Zealand. Numerous as are the i signatures appended, Mr Adams is of opinion that double the number could be obtained, if necessary, but at the same time he thinks it is doubtful whether a more representative petition than that he has been instrumental in getting up could be presented to Parliament. %>me of the facts that came to his knowledge during his canvas of the city exhibit the local railway management or mismanagement, if we are to be accurate, in a most ludicrous light. He ascertained, for example, amongst other things, that the good folks of Penrose are charged nearly double as much freightage on goods as the Onehunga people, who dwell considerably further down the line; and also that it costs more to bring a load of coals half way from Taupiri to Auckland than it does to bring it all the way and send it back again! The petition was intended to bear the signatures of men only ; but a. lady's name appears on it nevertheless. This lady happened to see the petition, and begged so hard to be allowed to append her signature to it that Mr Adams had not the heart to refuse her. The lady in question is smarting nnder the injustice of having to pay more for returned ' empties ' than for full cases! And yet there are people so ignorant or indifferent to what concerns them now, or may at some future time concern them, as to say that the present agitation is uncalled for! Happily these people are comparatively few. The great majority are keenly alive to the rottenness of the present railway system, and are determined to fight for the much-needed reform.