LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 143, 6 September 1912, Page 2

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

THE fact that Te Awamutu is taking xts share in the agitation which, since the accession to office of the present Government, has been very general throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion for the construction of light railways as feeders to the main lines will make the following report of considerable interest to our readers :—A series of five branch railways in . the Wairarapa was proposed by a large deputation which interviewed the Minister of Public Works (Hon. W. Fraser) last week. The aggregate length of construction proposed was 86 miles. Some years ago the people of the districts concerned proposed to undertake the construction of light electric railroads with power developed from the Makuri Falls. Mr W. Wakeman, of Pahiatua, stated that he then visited America and England and investigated transport systems. He learned that electric railways in rural areas were constructed in England) at £SOOO a mile, one-thfrd of the cost of steam railways in New Zealand. The Minister was informed that owing to the lack of facilities for transport of produce the settlers were turning to sheep-farming, and there "was a considerable amount of aggregation in progress in the Akitio County. The Minister expressed his sympathy with the deputation's proposals, but said that owing to the financial position he could not hold out any hope that they would be granted at present. Mr Fraser said he had long held the view that branch railways were not a luxury but a necessity. He was also confident that branch lines, constructed at the same

cost as main lines, would never pay, and the capital cost would always be pleaded as a bar to starting them. He could not see why branches should not be built with 40lb or 50lb rails on the same gauge as the main lines, but consequently much cheaper. When travelling in Queensland a few years ago he saw lines of railway laid down at £I2OO a mile, but the conditions there were veiy much easier than in New Zealand. There was little or no earthwork,, more sleepers were used, and rails were fastened down and a few shovelfuls of soil thrown over. The trains were not allowed to exceed ten miles an hour, but even that rate was very different from the rate of road traffic, which might be anything from two or three miles an hour to a mile in half a day on bad roads. By the ordinary professional light lines were not regarded ''with favour, and their opinion had to be'combatted. During the recess he intended to travel through most parts of the country which he could reach. He would then be able to form a better idea of the character 01 the country to be traversed, and whether it would be possible to reduce the cost of construction. It was urged that in rough country it cost just as much for light lines as for fully completed lines. That was a matter for consideration, and he intended to look into it very thoroughly, aird he hoped that, with the help of the chief engineer and his staff, he would be able to devise a means by which branch lines could be initiated at far less cost than was considered possible, and he was confident that, if this could be done the lines would be profitable.