RAILWAYS AND THE WAR

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23976, 17 June 1943, Page 3

RAILWAYS AND THE WAR

“ GOVERNMENT POLICY JUSTIFIED ” MINISTER’S REVIEW' From Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 16. From the broad national viewpoint the war has shown that the Government's policy of extending the main railway systems was amply justified, according to the railways statement for 1943, presented to the House of Representatives by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. R. Semple). After referring to the record revenue in 1942-43. the Minister said that financial results were overshadowed by the vital role being played" by the railways in the Dominion’s war effort. “The present conflict has shown quite clearly,” he stated, “that in time of stress the railway is the only reliable agency for bulk inland transport. Since August, 1939, this country has suffered a progressive diminution in its transport capacity; the coastwise trade has been limited, and the capacity to trans-, port by road has been severely reduced, first by the petrol position, and more recently by the progressively acute tyre shortage. The brunt of this loss in transport capacity has been borne by the railways, and the difficulties attendant on the transport of military personnel and the lange volume of war supplies and equipment have been correspondingly increased. “In meeting and overcoming these difficulties the railways have played an essential part in the country’s defence system not only in successfully handling the greatly increased volume of traffic, but also on the administrative side. The railway representatives on the various committees set up to deal with road transport, cargo clearance, and shipping have performed very valuable work in assisting road opera-

tors, harbour authorities, and shipping interests to overcome their difficulties. “This war has also shown that, from the broad national viewpoint,” he said, “this Government’s policy of extending the main railway systems of both Islands was amply justified. In order to relieve the position which arose from the rubber and fuel siortage, traffic was worked over the Walkofcp-pu-Gisbornc, the Dargaville-Kiriko-puni, the Wharanui-Clarence, and the Westpqrt-Inangahua sections as soon as practicable, even though these lines were not ready for taking over by the Railways Department. This working has produced vital economies in fuel and tyres, and the completion of further portions of the South Island Main Trunk, and particularly the HundaleeOaro section,, which will eliminate a heavy hill section of the road journey, should enable added savings in petrol and tyres of a substantial nature to be made. This work is therefore being proceeded with as rapidly as possible. “When reviewing the work done by the railways one must also bear in mind that they have not been free to expand their staff and facilities to meet the greatly increased demand. On the staff side a total of 6876 employees, or 26.6 per cent, of the pre-war staff, are at present serving with the armed forces, and a further 84 have been lent to other departments and to private firms engaged on war work. To some extent these men have been replaced by the new appointees and by the engagement of women, of whom 1400 have been taken on by the .. railways since the corajnencenient..of . 'the .war. The work of these women in clerical positions, portering duties, the cleaning of cars, and other positions has been of extreme value to the department. Nevertheless, the railway staff is still 3215, or 12.5 per cent., below the prewar figure, and this, coupled with loss of experienced ipen to the armed forces, has meant long hours and hard work for all sections of the staff. “In the workshops the rate of manufacture of munitions has been fully sustained throughout the year. The prodUctlriri of universal carrier parts, bodies for beaverettes, trench mortars, bomb casings, and of other types of equipment for all the services has been continued, and to these has been added the building of marine engines and boilers for Navy trawlers. This work has been carried on without interfering with the maintenance of railway rollirtg-stock, which must, of course, be the prime factor for consideration in the activities of the department’s workshops. It will be realised, however, that owing to the difficulty in securing certain necessary parts from overseas a good deal of improvisation has been necessary in order to maintain the locomotives and rolling-stock in a satisfactory state of repair.”

results of working in the last five years 11)40. 3.300 a,371 1941. 3 390 3,390 1942. 3.390 3.390 1943. 3.460 3.403 £71,087,455 £18,602 £1,189,031 £2,575,106 £73,048,958 £19,104 £1,694,844 £2,746,544 £73,723,223 £73,951,515 £19,146 £19,851 £1,882,304 £2,826,580 £2,756,146 £2,622,713 88.34 84.82 84.23 79,99 £818,517 2.84 £1,287,400 2.no £1.481.288 4.31 £2,395,421 90.6G 86.72 85.73 80.71 £243 £380 £437 £704 14.69d 22.78d 25.43d 37.98d