Railway Charges.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1909, 1 December 1886, Page 2

Railway Charges.

We are glad to see that a deputation, consisting of representatives of public bodies situated in the North Wairarapa, has waited upon the Government and brought under the notice of the Minister for Public Works the injustice of travellers on the Wairarapa line having to pay for five miles extra owing to the steep gradient up to the Summit. There are many persons who do not know that in addition to the usual charge per mile for the journey between Wellington and the Wairarapa an imaginary five miles are paid for because of the heavy expenses in working the line over the hill. It was an engineering blunder to bring the line over the summit in the first place, and travellers have ever since been taxed to pay for it. Mr MoCardle pointed out that the Wairarapa line was one of the best paying lines in the colony, and he felt convinced that unless the Government made some slight concessions the traffic would inevitably be diverted to the Wellington -Manawatu Railway Company's line. This, we fear, will be too true, even if the Government take oS the fare lor the five miles. When the other line is completed as far as Woodside, there will be a diminution of traffic on the Wellington-Wairarapa line, for travellers will choose the less dangerous and shortest route. However, we must be thankful for small mercies and hope that the promise of the Minister to give the matter his “ gravest consideration ’’ will result in this extra charge being taken off.