LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Waipa Post, Volume XVII, Issue 962, 1 July 1920, Page 7

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —It is surprising to read of the resolution of the Auckland Railway League in connection with the construction of light railways' 1 of a lesser gauge than 3ft 6in, in view of the fact that so much information concerning the value of this form of transport has been circulated lately. The desire of the advocates of the 2ft gauge is not to use this form of gauge everywhere, but to give those localities which cannot support a wider gauge one which they can. Taking as an example eight miles of easy country where dairying is principally followed, and where 100 20gallon cans of milk are to be carried twice daily, together with the current suppliers, for an area of about 10,000 acres. A simple problem in arithmetic will show how expensive motor transport would be. A normal gauge line built under the Local Railways Act, 1914, would cost £75,000 or £BO,OOO, fully equipped. The expenses of this type would for a twice daily service incur a weekly bill of £250 to £3OO, as against £25,000 for a 2ft line at a weekly cost of £IOO. This difference is the difference between failure and success, as the revenue would be about £IBO to £2OO per week for a district similar to that quoted. It will take more than the A.R.L. to convert from a belief in the twofoot gauge those who are suffering all the hardships of the high cost of living, and who are forced to pay as high as £5 per ton, in place of 10/ ii they had a 2ft line for the transport of their supplies. A 2ft railway means everything to these people, who have sunk their savings and the best'of their lives in their holdings The opinions of those who built and operated the hundreds of miles 2ft railways in Northern France are surely worthy of respect, and must stand even in the face of Lord Kitchener’s pre-war advice to the Commonwealth Government. —I am, etc., T>C. GRACE. Pirongia, 19/6/20.