N.Z. RAILWAYS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17220, 1 October 1927, Page 7

N.Z. RAILWAYS.

DEBATE ON STATEMENT.

! ELECTRIC RAIL MOTORS

MEMBERS’ OPINIONS DIFFER

(Special Parliamentary Reporter.) PRESS GALLERY, Friday.

There was a full discussion on railway matters in the House to-day on the motion to refer - the Railways Statement to the Government for consideration. Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) urged the Government to go in more extensively for electric rail cars on nonpaying branch lines particularly. The one car introduced had given satisfactory results and had proved extremely popular. The system should be thoroughly tried out before large electrification undertakings were carried out. Some of the cars could be used on road as well as on rail, and there surely was one method of combating motor Ims competition. Dealing with the Gis-borne-Napicr railway Mr Lysnar said he believed the Prime Minister was desirous of solving the difficulty. If the line around the coast were foliowed he was satisfied it would have a detrimental effect on the earning capacity of that line. Between 150 and 200 people travelled between Napier and Gisborne each day, and outside the Main Trunk the line, if taken inland, would pay better than any other in the Dominion.

Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) held that the Government had done the right thing in deciding to electrify the Christchurch-Lyttelton railway, and he was sure that the Prime Minister was not going back on the undertaking he had given. The Postmaster-General: Who suggested that he would? Mr McCombs: 1 don’t know that it has been suggested that he would, but he has been urged to.

The Government’s Railway Policy. Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill) said the Railway Statement was an excellent one. He was very pleased to know that the Government’s policy was to complete modernisation of the railway system, lie fully agreed that electrification was the proper solution of the suburban railway traffic problem. He did not, believe that anybody should he put off the road by pressure. Reasonable. compensation should he paid to the owners of motor bus services in cases where the Railway Department stepped in. In all the circumstances the financial results of the year’s working were remarkably good. What especially pleased him was the various avenues that had been opened up for increasing the earnings of the railways. The net earnings last year were nearly 4 per cent.,- which was as much as anybody should expect. Referring to the Ilutt Road lie thought the Government should adopt a reasonable passenger traffic that would capture all the passenger traffic in time. The establishment of a night train between Napier and Wellington was strongly urged by Sir George Hunter (Waipawa), who declared that the experiment if attempted would prove a profitable venture, and provide an effective method of meeting the present competition with the motors.

Electrification cf Lyttelton Tunnel. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) said although the member for Lyttelton had battled in and out of season for the electrification of Lyttelton tunnel he was really worshipping a “ tin god,” as the train would be pulled from the ship's side by a steam engine to the mouth of the tunnel, then the electric engine would take the train through the tunnel, and another steam engine would continue the journey. What was going to he gained by the electrification of the tunnel only? He advocated a full report being obtained as that the suitability of the Diesel electric engine for use on the section referred to. A test in Canada with this engine had shown that passengers could be carried over a distance like that between Lyttelton and Invercargill at Is per pasenger for fuel. Mr 11. L. Tapley (Dunedin North) said any man would he hard to please who was not satisfied with the report. It showed that the Government and its officers were fully alive to the need for meeting the requirements of modern transport. He thought the time was not very far distant when the whole of the railways would he electrified. Everything should he done that would reduce the costs of working the railway system. He urged the need for running a night service between Dunedin and Christchurch. He did not think they were being fairly treated in the South Island. Mr J. S. Dickson (Parnell) : Use your railways in the South more and make them pay.

• Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) said it would he time enough to judge the wisdom of the Railway Board’s policy when it had been carried into'effect. In the meantime they had not had time to put it into operation, and lie only hoped that the hoard would live up to its expectations. Hutt Valley Sections. Dealing with the sale of the Ilutt Valley sections, Mr Wilford said that many of the purchasers'contended that the advertisements clearly indicated that when they paid their 10 per cent, down they could lift their titles. Some people had got themselves into a frightful mess, and now found they could go no further with their building proposals. He would like the Minister, to say whether it was proposed to carry the new Hutt railway line, which now ran to Waterloo Road, any further. The Minister of Railways (Rt. lion. J. G. Coates) : It is intended to extend it as far as Silverstrcam. In conclusion, Mr Wilford said lie believed that New Zealand was lagging behind in not electrifying the whole of its railway system by means of hydroelectric power. • Mr J. S. Dickson (Parnell), in congratulating the Railway Board on the improvement on the Main Trunk line, said that the New Zealand railways had nothing to learn from the Australian lines. The Australian electric lines, however, were an eye-opener, the race traffic on Cup Day at Melbourne being most expeditiously handled. Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West) said electrification was one of tho urgent needs of our railway system, especially in respect of suburban traffic. lie complained that the reports of recommendations of the department’s experts were not acted upon by the Government. There was no sentiment in the transport business, and if the motor vehicle best service the people would patronise it to the loss of the railways. He was sure the people would stand to the railways if the trains were run to suit their needs. The Railway Department should give greater attention to the supply of motor services in growing localities where it was not expedient to put in additional railway facilities. The lion. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) and Mr 11. S. Kyle (Riccarton) congratulated the Railways Department on the success achieved in the running of farmers’ trains. The former said it might be expected that in time petrol and oil would become substantially dearer, more coal would he wanted, and the railways would have to rely on it. [Continued In next column.!

Mr J. (Mason (Napier) supported the suggestion to give a trial to a night service between Napier and Wellington. At present it Look three days to make the return journey between those centres. lie suggested that the Department should make further concessions in respet of children’s fares. Children up to three should still travel free, those up to nine or ten should he granted onc-quartcr fare, and those up to 15 years at half-fare.

Smokeless Fuel.

| Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) suggested that if the department wished to avoid further losses, with the possibility of increased subsidies upon the Consolidated Fund being required, they would have to go right out for the traffic that was now going io the motors on the roads. lie strongly urged the early development of the department’s scheme to use smokeless fuel. Experiments should he carried out to know whether it could he produced cheaply in large quantities, and so justify its extensive use. lie was sorry to see the Prime Minister shake his head. The Prime Minister (smiling) : I don’t waftt to develop any more smokeless fuel here to-night. (Laughter.) Air H. Holland (Christchurch North) said the department seemed to be always ready to receive any reasonable suggestion, and many * improvements had been effected in the service. He hoped that the hoard would continue its experiments with the running of the self-contained petrol-driven or steamdriven trains on the non-paying branch lines. They might assist to make such sections a payable proposition. After other members had spoken the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr 11. E. Holland, hoped the railway time-tables under daylight saving would he arranged so that the public convenience would be conserved. The railways should be made lo serve the people’s needs, especially by enabling products to be brought to the markets. If that was done the loss on.running was not a matter of such importance. The Minister of Railways, Air Coates, briefly returned thanks for the heartening remarks. It was encouraging that members of the House should be so unanimous in praising the work of the Railway Department.