Other Matters.

Other writers will probably deal with certain aspects of railway finance and activity, e.g., the sawmill and housing scheme, losing money on every 100ft. of timber sold and every house built, besides competing unfairly with the sawmillers who are amongst the railways' best customers; the limitation of liability for loss or damage; the unfairness of the exemption of railway dwellings from payment of local rates; and their 'bus competition in certain districts.

Has a serious attempt been made to retain the suburban traffic by means of small electric or petrol driven trains, running at frequent intervals?

I have not the time nor the knowledge to go fully into these questions; nor have I set out to expound the law and the prophets, but merely to direct attention to the biggest question of all-a comprehensive transport policy in all branches.

Just in passing, what about the amalgamation of the Railway, Tourist, and Publicity Departments? Their work necessarily must be closely allied-almost overlapping in some cases!