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Railway Progress in New Zealand
General Manager'S Message
Some Recent Improvements.

The improvement which recent months have shown in the financial returns from the Railways may be attributed in part to the improvement in prices obtained for the Dominion's primary products. There are, of course, other factors at work, but it can be said that, as far as the railways are concerned, the general position is better than it was two years ago when heavy reductions in train services had to be made on account of the greatly restricted volume of traffic. The point has now been reached where there are definite indications of some improvement in business. Hence the Department is called upon to explore fresh avenues of traffic which become available as business improves, and at the same time to proceed with a programme of improvements in rolling-stock and equipment such as may add to the usefulness and popularity of rail transport. The following are some of the changes made in the direction indicated: —

The Limited express between Auckland and Wellington now runs with only de Luxe day cars and de Luxe sleeping cars. The reduction of the de Luxe sleeping berth fee from 25/- to 20/- is in keeping with the times, and the one-class sleeper on the Limited is warranted by the bookings.

One of the important features of the policy adopted by the Government for tiding the country over the difficult economic conditions with which it has been faced, was a reduction of 15 per cent. in the railway rates for the carriage of certain commodities which closely affected the primary industries. This undoubtedly has constituted a very substantial help to the primary producing community and at the time when the reduction was made much appreciation was expressed at the action of the Government. It might not be out of place at this stage to mention the corresponding obligation which rests on those securing the benefit of this policy. The railways are capable of dealing with the transport of the products of the country and with the transport also of the goods which are necessary to meet the needs of people in the districts served by rail. While, undoubtedly, much support has been afforded the railways by the rural community there is still room for more to be done in this direction. The capacity of the public purse to stand such costs as are involved in the reduction of railway charges is not unlimited and as a matter of sound business, as well as moral obligation, those concerned might well consider the great desirability, indeed, necessity, of assisting the Government finances by placing their business with the railways.

Sometimes a price quoted by a competitive means of transport induces the people concerned either to place their goods for transport with such means of transport or to use the quotation for the purpose of hammering down railway rates. Either policy is, on the principles mentioned above, short-sighted and not likely in the long run to produce the best permanent results.

Sunday trains at low fares between well populated centres up to about a hundred miles distant were, in response to the public demand, commenced as an experiment and have proved increasingly popular, so that now those running between Auckland and Hamilton, Wellington and Palmerston North, Christchurch and Timaru, and Dunedin and Oamaru, are a regular feature of the timetable. This month will see an extension of Sunday train services of this kind for shorter runs, viz.: between Auckland and Helensville (38 miles), Auckland and Papakura (19 miles), and Wellington and Upper Hutt (20 miles). As a large proportion of traffic of this kind is due to an interchange of visits between families and friends, which would not otherwise be possible, or on account of the special attractions of the particular locality, it is anticipated that at the low fares which will be charged the new services will meet the transport needs of the people.

General Manager.