Stages instead of Mileage

and to point out the better financial result obtainable by the stage system. The present first-class fare from Auckland to Te Awamutu, is 20s. 10d. This is the utmost any seat can earn, no matter if it is occupied by the same passenger throughout, or by a succession of passengers, indeed, if a man broke his journey at Penrose and took a fresh ticket, he would save threepence by the transaction.

On my system, the through first-class fare, Auckland to Te Awamutu, would be 3s. only, and if a seat were occupied by a through passenger that is all it could earn, but as I have no first-class fare under 6d. and as there are 34 stations on the line, it follows that by a succession of passengers from station to station, each seat could earn 17s. or five and two-thirds as much as the through fare. Thus it will be seen that while the stage system gives great advantages to individual travellers, it also gives good financial results. It will also be seen, that while my through fares may appear absurdly low, I by no means rely on them only, which under the present system they are compelled to do.

It has often been objected that my proposals are too sweeping, the