DAY BY DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14022, 27 March 1919, Page 4

DAY BY DAY.

It is fervently to be hoped that the efforts now being Waikato’s made to secure an imGreat provement of the Waterway, channel of the Waikato River for navigation purposes will be successful. It eannot be gainsaid that lion. T. M. Wilford, the Minister for Marine, is showing considerable energy and enthusiasm on the matter, and it will not evidently be his fault if something is not soon accomplished to improve our magnificent natural waterway, and increase its usefulness to the settlers generally. He has arranged for Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, with an expert, to inspect the river shortly, and it is hoped that as the result of that inspection a scheme will be formulated which will ensure the navigation of the Waikato at all seasons of the year. Though the present river service is of only recent Inauguration, it has abundantly demonstrated the great possibilities of the waterway, and, given better facilities, the volume of trade will assume gigantic dimensions and prove a boon to dwellers, both of town and country. Every shilling spent in fostering the river trade will give a handsome return, and it is gratifying to find that we have, as Minister of Marine, a man who is convinced of that fact. It is an assurance that all possible will lie done. Is it too much to hope that the Minister of Railways will be equally sympathetic in the matter and provide the necessary facilities for the expeditious handling of goods at Ngaruawahia.

The protests made by the Auck'and Executive of the Uncomfortable New Zealand FarRailway mers’ Union, anent Travelling. the conditions of travel prevailing on the Main Trunk express, will find ready endorsement by those who, unfortunately for themselves, have had to make the journey. The statements made by Mr James Boddie are in no whit overdrawn, and the conditions he portrayed are not isolated incidents, but the general rule. At seasons of rush the public possibly expect to have to put up with a little discomfort, but there can be no possible excuse for the preisent disgraceful state of affairs in normal times, and it indicates that the system of management is at fault. Visitors from overseas become ! eloquent as they dilate upon the attractiveness of New Zealand as a tourist paradise; they say all sorts of nice things about our fjords, our glaciers, our mountains, our plains, our lakes our rivers, our geysers, etc., but when asked for an opinion regarding our railways their tune is changed and “execrable” is one of the mildest terms applied to-them. They, for the most part, come to these shores strong advocates of State ownership; they return to their own countries' entirelysatisfied that private ownership is a blessing and not a curse. The State Should certainly be able to accord the public the better service, but it cannot be contended that any effort lo that end is ever attempted on the New Zealand Government Railways; and the travelling public are compelled to undergo discomforts and inconveniences which would hot- be tolerated fpr one moment were the railways run by private enterprise. A pictureshow proprietor incurs penalties if be oversells his seating accommodation (even though the patrons are prepared to stand for a couple of hours in order to sec the programme); a steamship owner is strictly limited as lo the number of passengers lie shall carry; tramways and buses are licensed and restricted; but the railways are under no limitations. The Department will sell tickets irrespective of whether seals can be supplied or not; passengers may lie in the corridors on an all-night journey; they can even coil themselves up on the platforms despite the warning so conspicuously displayed on every carriage, and the departmental officers are prevented by regulation to relieve the congestion. Surely it is time somebody woke ip to our ancient system which pleases nobody. The staff is dissatisfied, the public are disgusted and it is doubtful if even the Minister himself is completely at case. New Zealand railway management is certainly not a convincing argument in favour of Slate control.