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ANOTHER INCREASE IN RAIL
WAY RATES THREATENED.
In the course of his policy speech
at Moora on Friday evening, the
Premier said, "Unfortunately it
looks as if the railways will receive
at least £200,030 less revenue than
last year." Further on in his
speech, when referring. to the
finances gcaerally. Mr. Lefroy said:
"The only sources from which we
oan expect any further revenue
will be from the railways. The
revision of the freights and
fares 'on the railways will re
ceive the most. careful.considera
lion on the return of the Comn
timissioner of Railways froml the
EaRtern States. As a result of
the war the cost of everything
used on our railways has greatly
Sincreased, and therefore it will
be utterly imposmsible for us to
give the public the railway con
veniences at the same rates as
they are now enjoying. Hand in
hand with the increase of rates
must be the most. careful
scrutiny -i the railway expendi
ture. and, whilst we may be
faced with the task of cutarzi!
ing, or making more payable,
the servicels rendered, we must
use full judgment in giving con
vemience to compensate as far
as possible."
The above statement of Mr. Lefroy
clearlymeans that an increase in the
railway rates is contemplated. This
journal has always contended that
every effort should be made to
straighten the finances, and that in
order to do so the public should be
prepared if necessary to make sacri
fioes, biut in any sacrifices that
should be made the 'burden should
as far as possible be made to rest
equally on the people of all parts of
the State. Furthermore, we be
lieve that care should be taken to
ensure that the .residents of the in
r uhoauld. pet e made 4.to lear
more than their share, engaged as
they are, in the laudable wo·rk of
developing the State's naiural rc
sources. To lhe goldfields the rail
way rates a-re of primnay impor
tance. Everything that the pe.ple
in this part of the State cat, wear,
and use, conies to thewy over theC
railways, and any zincrease in carry
ing charges immediately means an
increase in prices. The railways can
thus be used as a taxation medium,
but it is a most objectionable form
of taxation, because it falls with
undue severity on one section of vhe
community, whilst the people living
on the coast, who only use the rail
ways to a limited extent, escape
scot free. In one or two countries
where State owned railways exi.t, -
the value they are to even the
people who do not use them is re
cognised, and the in'erest and sink
ing fund chairges on the cost of
their consltruction are taken out of
the oonisolidsaied revenue. In West
Australia the Railway Department
is expected to pay some £600,0xu
annually to loan chargeas, and if thie
Department were relieved of this
there would be a 'very substantial
balance of revenue over expendi:
ture. The syst.em of national'sing
the railways has much to recom
mhend it, but its immediafte adoption
in this State would be attended by.
many difficulties owing to the exist
ing state of the finrances. It would
ca.l for a. radical aterati:n, not
only in railway rates, but in the
State's financial methods.
No one can object to fair railway
charges, but objection can he justly
taken to railway charges that are
fixed in ol der to make good the
losses on agricultural developmental
railways, or losses caused b. carry
ing fertilisers at exceptionally low
charges in order to assist agricul
turc. Opposition may well be
raised to the assistance extended to
any industry being paid for by one
section of the people instead of by
the residents of the State generally.
The Premier states that the rail
ways will receive at least £200,000
less revenue this year than was col
lected last year. It would be in
teresting to know how much of that
loss results from the effortis. to det
velop the agricultural industry. The
loss on the agricultural develop
mental railways is known to be con
siderable. In addition, charges are
fixed with a view to assisting the i
industry. For instance, the reduc
tion on fertiliser freights alone
meant a loss of some £60,000 an
nually. If the railways were rmun
on a strictly commercial basis, the
railway revenue ought to be re
couped for these losses out of the
agricultural development vote--a
vote that is paid for by the whole
State. Instead of makiilg good the
losses out of that vote. Mr. Lefroy
calmly proposes a further increase
in the railway rates. It is mani
festly unfair that the users of the
railways should be bled by means
of high charges in order that the
agricultural industry should be as
sisted. The goldfields people have
never objected to all reasonable as
sistance being given to agriculture.
They willingly bear their share, but
they object to bearing considerably
more than their fair share. The
loss on the agricultural railways and
on the low chargcd .oi farmers' re
quirements should be paid for by
the whole State, and -not placed
solely on. the users of the railways.
The goldfields are the main users of
the railways, and until it can be
clearly shown that the railways are
not paying when put upon a strictly
commercial basis, all goldfields
members should vigorously prote:st
against any increase in the railway
rates--an increase suggestive of
special taxation on the goldfibhlti
people to pay for agricultural rc
velopment.
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