DOMINION RAILWAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 241, 12 October 1931, Page 16

DOMINION RAILWAYS

ADMINISTRATION METHODS TARIFF CHARGE ANOMALIES. GENERAL POLICY ATTACKED. A vigorous attack on the construction policy and administration of the New Zealand railways was made by Mr. E. Earle Vaile, speaking at Rotorua last week. He said one of the greatest faults in the railway system was that it was conducted for the benefit of the service and not for the convenience of the public, and the years of monopoly had engendered an attitude in the department which failed to recognise the need for competitive and business-like action. The railways at present did not pay their way, nor did they serve the public. The causes of this state of affairs were gross over-capitalisation of construction costs, the existence of a previous monopoly of business, high running costs and the competition of motor traffic. The amount invested in the railways was £70,000,000 and the interest charges represented an annual levy of £lO per taxpayer. Continuing, Air. Vaile said the competition of motor traffic had grown to serious dimensions and it would be most inadvisable ant. almost dishonest to attempt to overcome it by legislative means. If motors really were the beat means of transport, the public should be given the opportunity of using them, but the competition between the services should be on a fair basis. There was a danger of over-estimating the amount of motor traffic, however, owing to its apparent bulk. A train carrying 300 tons of goods would pass without attracting undue attention, but the fleet of 60 large motor-lorries which would be required to carry the same amount of goods on the road would cause a great deal of trot ble to other traffic. One of the most anomalous features in the railway system was its tariff scale. The information on this subject wa published in a book oi 154 pages, besides a mass of amendments, and al together 1500 items were enumerated in the 13 classes of goods accepted for carriage. The freight for 100 miles varied from 8s 5d to £6 18s 2d a ton, and there were often various charges for the same service. The freight from Auckland to Rotorua for plain fencing wire, which was easy to handle and compact, requiring a minimum of rolling stock to haul it, was £2 8s 2d a ton. For coke, a dirty freight requiring a maximum of rolling stock, the charge was £1 2s 6d. The freight for grass seed was £1 7s, and that for clover, a more compact seed, was £2 8s 2d. If mixed grass was consigned, a declaration had to be made regarding the quantities of grass seed an clover seed in the mixture. Clothes props in the rough could be carried 100 miles for 8s sd, but if they were dressed the charge was £1 17s Id pe! ton for the sam?, distance. Salt was carried at three different rates, according to the purpose, for which it was to be used. In conclusion, Air. Vaile said - the fares on the railways were uniformly too high. He advocated the institution of a charge on tho basis of cheaper rates for longer distances travelledPromotion by seniority should be abolished and a speedy recognition of merit substituted, and the right to dismiss 'nefficient hands should be restored t-o the gement.