WHY MORE RAILWAYS?

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17839, 11 October 1929, Page 9

WHY MORE RAILWAYS?

GOVERNMENT’S “TEMERITY” FURTHER LOSSES FEARED. Sympathy with the General Manager of Railways in the difficult task I he had in trying to make the railways pay was expressed by the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr E. Salmond). Mr. Salmond said he was surprised that the Government should undertake additional railway construction which would still further increase the loss to be met by the taxpayers. The president referred to the recent Railways Statement as published in the Press, which he said showed a very solid deficit to be borne by the taxpayer. He expressed sympathy with the General -Manager and staff in the extremely difficult job they had in trying to make the railways pay, i especially considering the intense j competition from motor traffic. It was noticed that the General Manager drew particular attention to the fact that so many people were using motor-cars instead of the railways as they were more mobile, and after | perusing the statement he was struck with the temerity of the Government in going ahead with the construction of further railways, which would simply go to swell the loss to be borne by the taxpayers. lle suggested that by the time the South Island railway was completed, not only would the railways be getting competition from motor cars, but they would certainly be getting competition from the air. Y’oung people and commercial travellers generally would travel by air if they had the opportunity. Old fashioned people would probably still use the ferry service, but the Chamber was at a loss to know who would use the main trunk service. Mr S. A. Longuet referred to the cheap transit afforded to the farming community on numerous goods, and said he thought the railways would pay if run strictly on commercial lines. The matter was referred to the Transport Committee for it to go closely into the railway statement and see if any useful suggestions could be put forward.