THE RAILWAYS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19763, 19 December 1935, Page 8

THE RAILWAYS

The Fay-Raven Commission, probably the most expert body that has ever examined the railways of the Dominion, in its report, stressed the fact that they could not be operated as a system. The break at Cook Strait made two groups and isolated sections really made our railways a collection rather than a system. The new Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, has stated that the initiation of a Government steamer sendee between Wellington and Lyttelton is to be investigated, but that would not serve any useful purpose unless it were thought advisable to purchase vessels of the type found in the Baltic and elsewhere, constructed to carry trains. The idea strongly favoured in the south is that the Main Trunk line to Picton should be completed and that a train ferry should then link the two islands together. It is contended that this would enable the railways to be operated as a system, as recommended by the Fay-Raven Commission, doing away with much handling of freight and enabling the service to give delivery to any part with the minimum of delay.

But that development must wait until the lines have been completed for it is unlikely that a train ferry over the longer distance from Wellington to Lyttelton would be economical. The provision of a State service would entail added indebtedness at a time when that should be avoided as far as possible. The present service is convenient and reliable and there are other openings for the use of capital. The Government has sufficient problems on hand to command its attention for a long time, and an extension of State activities to include shipping was never discussed at the last election and found no place in the party programme as far as we can ascertain. The expenditure would not create any greater demand for labour and that is the major problem that the Dominion must solve.