The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1909. THE RAILWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2686, 16 December 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1909. THE RAILWAYS.

The recent discussion in the House on the Railway Estimates provides an unfortunate instance of the manner in which the most important affairs of the country are dealt- with in the latter partvof the session. The vote of £2,143,500 was dealt with in an aftsrnoon sitting and the time was obviousiy Lr too .short to permit of any effective criticism being made either in regard to individual items or to the general policy. Mr Massey made a very reasonable suggestion when he moved that the Estimates be reduced by £1 as an indication that one day should be set apart each session for discussion on the Railway Statement. The Government opposed the motion and succeeded in defeating it, but- only by the comparatively narrow margin of 33 votes' to 24, so that it may be hoped that the suggestion will be adopted in the future. The railways form such an integral portion of the Dominion’s public system and their conduct is usually accepted as such a guide to the competency of the existing administration that the expenditure thereon cannot reasonably be dismissed by a trivial and brief discussion. So far as the debate was allowed to proceed, some satisfactory information was elicited. The new Minister, Mr. Millar, has completely abandoned the role so long adopted in the same position by Sir Joseph Ward, who always averred that the railways were paying their way, and so long as they did and supplied the travelling public with reasonable conveniences all was well. Mr. Millar frankly conceded that the average cost of the money borrowed for railway construction is 32 per cent., and that the loss on the past year’s working was £220,000. He is not content to pay 3$ per cent, and earn 3 per cent, and indicated his intention to economise whereever possible in order to make both ends meet. This is the only sound businesslike policy, and it is to be Imped the Minister will have the courage to carry it through. In this connection the present Government are to be commended for the firm stand they are taking in refusing to support grants -for lines which are not at all likely to pay their way for many years to come. A capital instance of the Ministerial attitude in this respect was given by Mr. Millar’s answer to Mr. Field’s plea for an extra train to Otaki. The train would cost £IOOO a year, said Mr. Millar, and it would earn about £4OO. He was willing to put it on if the district to be served would guarantee the department against the estimated loss of £6OO a year. This attitude must be very disconcerting to many settlers, but it is the only possible one in the present condition of the Dominion finances, and in the long run it should prove satisfactory to all concerned.