The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 11 (March 1, 1929)

Essay by J. Gunn, Std. V., Wataroa School, South Westland

Essay by J. Gunn, Std. V., Wataroa School, South Westland.

The citizens of New Zealand have a great deal for which to be thankful. New Zealand, though such a young country, has many benefits bestowed upon it. One of these benefits is the system of the New Zealand Government Railways. This has penetrated into many parts of New Zealand, opening up large tracts of new land that otherwise would be practically useless. In Otago, where the farmers use lime, the lime is conveyed for the first hundred miles free of charge.

Then, too, travelling by train is much cheaper. Travelling in a car is much more costly and tiresome. On a long journey, the railway proves to be quicker, safer, and a more comfortable way of transport. If one is wishing to travel by night, sleeping accommodation is provided for a little extra payment on the expresses. This is one advantage. Another great advantage is that one may book one's seat, and enjoy a seat to oneself. One may book a seat some days beforehand, and may rest assured of getting a good seat, no matter how crowded the train is. This is a very great advantage to persons travelling in haste. Children under twelve years of age may travel at half-rates. Also, children under the age of three may travel free of charge. To assist families the railway now carries parents and all children under sixteen years of age for the price of three ordinary or excursion second-class return adult fares. The larger the family the greater the concession.

Excursion tickets also are issued at Christmas and Easter holidays. One may purchase tourist excursion tickets for touring the whole of New Zealand for £16 5s. Then, also, one ticket may be purchased for touring one Island only for £10.

Every precaution is taken to safeguard passengers travelling by railway. The provision of the most modern signalling apparatus together with the maintenance of rolling stock and running lines in a high state of efficiency ensure to the passengers a degree of safety not attainable by other modes of travel.

How cheap, too, is the freight on the goods carried by the railway. Much cheaper are the transport costs on the railway than by motor transport. Here, where I live, there is no railway. The nearest station is Ross, a town fifty miles off, and the charge on live stock, wool and other farm produce is more from here to Ross than from Ross to Addington, a distance of one hundred and eighty miles. The number of sheep, lambs, cattle, and bales of wool railed from Ross is enormous.

Since the Otira tunnel has been completed the Canterbury markets are brought within a day's journey of the West Coast. This is a great boon to the sheep and cattle farmers on the West Coast. All the farmers now have to do is to put their stock on the train at Ross and the stock goes direct to Addington. Addington is our chief stock market. The railway, therefore, though being cheaper, allows the stock to arrive in a better condition, and so the stock brings a better price.

The railway is also used to convey timber from the timber areas to the building centres. The number of tons of timber carried annually in New Zealand is approximately six and a quarter million. The timber thus carried is a benefit to the country for it enriches both the Government and the timber owners, plus the owners of the railway—the people of New Zealand.

Some idea will be gained of the low charge for the conveyance of goods traffic when it is realised that the average charge last year for carrying one ton of goods for a distance of one mile was not quite two and a half-pence. This is a very much cheaper way than the motor conveyance.

This is a remarkable instance of the railways cheapness compared with the motor transport. My mother had purchased a bicycle in Christchurch and wanted it to be conveyed to my home. The railway carriage on it from Christchurch to Hokitika, a distance of one hundred and sixty-five miles, was two shillings and sixpence. Yet the cost on the cartage from Hokitika to here was three times as much as the railway carriage. This was for a distance of seventy miles. It may seem incredible, but for all that it is true.

Where Thousands of Tons of Timber are Handled Annually. Hokitika Railway Station and Yard, West Coast, South Island

Where Thousands of Tons of Timber are Handled Annually.
Hokitika Railway Station and Yard, West Coast, South Island

Ah! what a blessing it would be if only the railway could be extended southward—even as far as Waiho would indeed prove a blessing. I hope to live to see the opening of a railway at Waiho Gorge.