RAILWAY REFORM.-THE IMPORTANCE OF CHEAP EARES TO COUNTRY SETTLERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1784, 11 December 1883, Page 2

RAILWAY REFORM.-THE IMPORTANCE OF CHEAP EARES TO COUNTRY SETTLERS.

No. 1., to thk Knrron. Snt,—ln coiihidei ing the question of railway management in the colonies, it is important to got (Hit of our minds, Homo notions and ideas that have grown iip with us from our early boyhood. ' For instance, we are all accustomed to think that the one great object to be aimed at in managing a railway is to make it pay the largest possible amount of interest on the c6st of construction and maintenance. I shall again endeavour to show that so 1 far as coloniaHrovernment railways are coucerned this is a most serious, indeed fatal error. We are apt to pay too much attention to what has been done in older countries, and too little to the study of our own peculiar circumstances and requirements. We forget that iv the older countries railways came into existence under totally different circumstances from those under which they were constructed here, as al«o that they were built for totally different purposes, and to attain different ends. In Great Britain, America, and to a laige extent oir the Continent of Europe, tail ways were constructed simply and solely for- the -purpose of putting money'into the pockets''of certain piivate individuals, shareholders in railway companies, and the public convenience was only considered in so far as it tended to this end. And seeing that these railways were formed by private capitalists, who could not live if they did not get interest for their money, this was not only natural, but right. In the colonies railways are supposed to be constructed in the interests of theswhole community, 'andyiiofe in the interests of any'particular cl*s%'bns" as they are at present managed, thpv.qm only: be' used by the comparSwvely wealthy, and the large producer*. ,^h c wants of the small producers," store and », shopkeepers, the > > laboiu ing- and. •■■ artisan" classes are completely ignored, This is the fatal blot on, our system of man- - agoinon^iand. until it is removed' wei neefdJ not hope for any good results, either? directly or indirectly, from our railways. Seeing that the whole i community \ are shareholders in the railways, the primary objects in their management should be the convenience of the public, the isettlemeht* of the country, the development of its ft-j sources, the general expausibn'of trade and commerce, and through that expansion tthe, increase^ of' our 'general revenue ; hut in* stead <g#flfewvawly toTOfr<ln guiWhe. r^Y*f WWent'pay, Tiy Wiirip^ition of high rates, we .cripple iheVhole country. Unftetunatefy we have fallen into the .error pf'placing the/railway' department id the* position of jf railway crimflafa'y, 'an'd'making iutliy roust be paicL. A THe sooner Weet rid of this bugi^arWdiretauterest, the ? otls e, r wjll our railwayir pay the comiiurfi£y/ both! directly tkff.ifadirebtlyAT.* Mn, &c., ,'.i'i)}i:)/.j jhnn) » ?ifd iCj, I , - Samuel Vailb,

itinual sale of bioodvrtock atthADurham Yards. mihe: 3rd*of. Ja.nniry^ lhiit l," Tf&, lota include °«rwU? bv ¥»>kei, and one';by Mwbyrpong,