PRUNING KNIFE ON THE RAILWAYS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3025, 12 March 1917, Page 4

PRUNING KNIFE ON THE RAILWAYS

CURTAILMENT OF PASSENGER SERVICES MR. HILEY INTERVIEWED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christohurch, March 10. • Interviewed to-day Mr. Hiley (Gen-> eral Manager of the Railways), said that ho could not yet fully explain th* scheme for tho curtailment of tho railway services which ho had recently drawn up, because it was still before the Minister, and had to bo dealt with by Cabinet, but he could say that some fairly drastic proposals were being made, which were calculated to havo a distinct effect upon tho passenger traffic if the schemo woro adopted. He could not say how many men. it would release for military service. Jf curtailment woro decided on it was no good doing things by halves, a« tho gooda scrvico must be kept up- Tho Pruning must necessarily bo at the expense of the passenger traffic. ...... "It is possible," ho eaid, that, the curtailment of the passenger trams will havo to bo followed, up by » rise, in fares." He did not think the- few raco trains now run could bo held accountable for keeping an unnecessarily largo staff, for in practically all cases theso trains wero worked as "extra by a staff which was only large enough to cope with tho ordinary work. Mr. Biloy added that ho thought tho criticism' of the Department for appealing for its employees at tho Military Appeal Boards was a little- unfair, and probably arose through want of knowledge of tho facts.