Back to the Rail

In the course of an interesting article under the above caption in the New Zealand Traveller, the writer states:—

“Within recent years there was a tendency among the public to regard the railways as “bad boy” of the State's family—a culprit picking the parent's pocket; but the truth is now out. The people can see that the roads are the rodents, gnawing large lumps from public funds. The Transport Department's review of the situation showed that road transport (motor) cost New Zealand £28 millions in 1929—a huge sum, to which £4 millions had to be added for road maintenance—a staggering aggregate of £32 millions. The expenditure of the railways for the same year was £9 millions.

“In 1929 the total cost of transport (road and rail) was £29 per head of the Dominion's population, and it took a toll of more than £36 from every £100 worth of production (primary and secondary).

“Anybody who gives a fair measure of thought to that enormous cost cannot fail to see that one of the essentials of prosperity for New Zealand's industries is an easing of the huge burden of transport. The railways are in readiness to give that relief; they offer the opportunity to their owners, the general public, to slice a large piece from that terrible 36 per cent. cut of the national wealth.”

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