Not Profit-making.

Mr. Semple had displayed great genius for organisation, said the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). He was proud of him as a colleague, because of his vigour. With the young men who have gathered round him he had placed New Zealand on the map, from the point of view of the way in which business was carried out. Mr. Sullivan spoke of the new schedules which would be available with the opening of the line.

“There are some people who seem to think that the railways should be run in the same way as any ordinary private business,” said Mr. Sullivan. “We cannot judge the Railway Department on that basis. Railways are necessary for the development of the country, and cannot be looked on from the narrow accountancy sense. If it had been so in the past, the country would not have the population it has to-day. We must look on the railways as a national service. We cannot spend any amount of money on the job. We have to estimate how much we can afford, but we must look on this service as many people do on the education, health, and other services upon which money is spent, as a necessary service, in the production of national wealth.”