OUR MALIGNED RAILWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2605, 13 September 1909, Page 2

OUR MALIGNED RAILWAYS.

In New Zealand, it may not be generally known, the 'average amount of time lost by our long-distance trains on ‘ ‘schedule terminus time” throughout the year is only 1| minutes, taking into account landslips and floods, holiday crushes, and caifsual accidents. It is no exaggeration to say that people can safely set their watches fry our trains in most parts of the Dominion; while in the United States no one thinks \of going to meet a through train without ringing up the station to ask if it ; is “on time.” As to the freight and passenger charges, our averages compare, on the whole, more than favorably with the American schedule; and we hope the politicians in search of a plausible pretext for maligning Government will pay a little attention to these interesting facts before denouncing our__railways so vehemently in future.—‘'Auckland Star. ' MEDICAL EXAMINATION. It is only fair that* a system of compulsory medical examination of school children should be arranged. The results could be presented by the medical oflicer engaged to the secretary of the Board, and by him sent to the head teachers, and thence to the parents of the scholars, so that either the family doctor or by arrangement by the State with the local hospital. authorities the proper treatment of the various disorders could be at once made. Such a system has recently been introduced into the New South 'Wares schools with extremely beneficial results. The importance of this question merits its early consideration by those responsible.—“Mataura Ensign.”