The Dominion. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1907. RAILWAY ADMINISTRA-TION CRITICISED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1907. RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED.

In another column of this issue there appears the last, for the time being, of a series of articles in criticism of the administration of our railways. We think those who have read the articles will recognise that their author has, in a very temperate manner, made out a case against the Railway [Department that ought to be answered. The chief counts in the indictment are: — 1. That, a private engineering shop has been entrusted with a large and costly order for work of a class that the railway workshops of the country, which have been constructed and equipped at groat expense, should have been nble to carry out more efficiently and at less cost. 2. Over-equipment in the matter of .rolling stock induced by failure to get

the. best results from the stock available. ''>. Failure of cosily safety appliances to. secure that safety which the huge •outlay involved in their installation should have aftorded. - 4. High freight rates by comparison with those io force on flic principal railway systems of the Australian Common wealth. 5. Excessive cost of working—the cost, having increased of late years to a remarkable extent, and being now from 12 per cent, to 15 per cent. than the working expenses of the principal Australian railways. 6. Failure (contingent on high working cost) to fully pay interest on capital as well as working expenses, and thereby further comparing unfavourably with the chief Australian systems, which arc able to completely discharge those obligations and, in addition, hand over surpluses to the general revenue accounts of their respective states. Regarding No. 1 of the foregoing, 'we do not see how an explanation that will be satisfactory to the country can be forthcoming. In the case oC No. 2, it has been shown that the locomotive power would not be capable of hauling the carriages and waggons available if, the traffic were in such volume as to necessitate employing them to an extent approaching tlieir maximum capacity. No. 3is justified by the comparatively recent accidents near Bankside in Canterbury, and on the Aucklandliotorua line respectively. What, may we.ask, will be the cost'of replacement of the rolling stock damaged by those •accidents? Paragraph .4' is sxipported by figures which ; a re. beyond dispute, and the same may be affirmed' , of 5 and 6 also? Wo presume it will not be contended that salaries and wages, and cost of supplies necessary for operating railways, are higher in New Zealand than in Australia, or are so much higher as to satisfactorily account for the great difference that exists .to our disadvantage. What,, then, is the cause of this difference ? Is it to be accounted for wholly or in part by one or more of the'following causes? (a) Lower standard of efficiency of the employees' necessitating employment of a greater number than would bo necessary if individual capacity were better, (b) Over-equipment, necessitating employment of individuals who otherwise ■would not be'required. (c) Betterment expenditure, which, in accordance with railway practice generally ought to have been paid for' out of capital, (d) General waste, resulting from laxity of control. The public has been made aware lately that a good deal of discontent exists' in the railway service. Have the unsatisfactory results noticed been contributed to by that discontent? The railways are the property of the public, who should be made, aware of their actual financial position, and that is / certainly not disclosed by the Kail ways Statement. It must be remembered that the Minister claims that the Department is "run on business lines," but how that assertion can bo reconciled with the accounts pro-, sensed probably only an (Edupus could tell. We believe that our railways could be made to contribute in a much greater degree than at present to the-ad-vancement of the country, and lipid that the Government should take immediate steps to place-the Department on an improved footing. Ministerial ■assurances that all is well-are fruitless when circumstances in sight are directly negative of such assurances.