THE MISTER OF RAILWAYS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2755, 9 March 1910, Page 5

THE MISTER OF RAILWAYS

HON. MR MILLAR MAKES IMPORTANT SPEECH.

fPiiit PnKfis Association.) FEILDING, March 8

The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, was to-day taken by motor through Apiti, Ranghvhia, and Waituna, a 100 miles journey. To a deputation at Apiti asking for railway extension, lie said the .policy of the Government was to finish the main lines first, such as the Gisborne-Rotorua and the Midland lines, and then to consider branch lines. From what lie sanv of the Apiti district he believed the line would pay, and be would advocate its construction. Ho thought a trial should be made with light lines for country districts. The Minister was banquetted to-night at Feilding by the Chamber of Commerce. In reply to the toast of. bis health he said he had received an education that day, because his lot was east in the city, not in the country. He had visited the district with the utmost pleasure for lie saw such a large area, within the radius of one town. With steady development going on all over Now Zealand he did not want to see booming in the Dominion, which reacted on the country. In future he would show a little more consideration for Feilding. Regarding railways be said it was an important department, and had thirty millions invested in it. It required close attention if a man was going to d<> his duty. His policy was to endeavor to remember that railways were intended to help the development of the country. The object of the State in owning railways was to run them for the benefit of the people. Still those - who had the use of railways should pay for them. The firstthing he had in view was to make the railways earn their own interest, £3 16s per cent., and when the corner was turned he intended to give back any surplus by increased facilities, etc. Things had been done with the railways in the past which were unremunerative. While dealing with these he would try not to increase the cost of carrying produce sent to the Home market to prevent any undue increase in the charges on exportable products. He referred to the fact that previously the Railway Department had decided to carry timber for fruit cases free in oilier to encoura:ge the fruit industry. This had been abused by people carrying timber 375 miles free because they could get cases one penny cheaper. That was not going to last any longer. Wanganui had been critising the Department regarding differential rating. He wanted to tell the Wanganui editors that he wasn’t going to make the whole of the people of New Zealand pay for the sake of the port of Wanganui. Coal freights should he as low as possible, because it was a necessary commodity. Speaking on stock trucks he said the railway could not be expected to keep trucks lying idle half the year to meet the abnormal demand in any one district. He referred to the sheep fair at Feilding. where 40,000 sheep were handled, and said they would require 400 trucks and ten locomotives to deal with them. This was impossible. Fat stock required trucks so stores bad to wait. He had just got a telegram saying that 0 trucks were wanted at Wanganui for stores. It was impossible to do it and meet other demands. This year ■l2lO trucks and ten locomotives were being built. His policy was to pay for new works, locomotives or trucks, which added to the capital of railways, out of lean money. The Department was now relaying nearly 100 miles per annum out of revenue. The railways were better to-day than they had ever been. The railway officials were anxious to do the best they (possibly could for the people of New Zealand with the material at hand. He had received a Tetter from the vice-president of the Farmers’ Union of New Zealand complimenting the officials on their excellent work. He would apply to Parliament for money for railways which were -always twelve months behind requirements. The revenue was now £304,000 more than last,year, and the expenditure this year would be reduced bv 4 per cent of what- it was last year. The ratio, of expenditure would be 69 per cent., possibly 68 this year, which compared favorably with other countries. Some time 'ago the Department knew that the coal trouble was brewing, and the Department stocked 40,000 tons of coal ready for the strike. There were 181 miles of railway more this year than last, working at a small increased cost. He did not anticipate this year paying the full rate of interest, but would go closer to it than last year, and by the end of next year he hoped to pav the full rate of interest. If he did that his life would not he spent in vain.