The Dominion. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1918. DRIFT OR HUSTLE?

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 73, 20 December 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1918. DRIFT OR HUSTLE?

The reduction of railway services and facilities during the war period, though it was unavoidable, had serious results. It not only occasioned great inconvenience to the public and intensified the evils of overcrowding in the larger centres of population, but did something to hamper and cripple industries. Obviously, therefore, it is a matter of the utmost urgency that the railways' should, be as soon as possible put again into full working order. It is very necessary that everything possible should be done not only to- restore useful services which were cut out during the war years, but to expedite the improvements which must be put in hand if the railways arc to meet demands in the after-war period. An uneasy impression is abroad that the tendency is ,to pursue a policy of drift in theso matters. If the impression is erroneous, it is in the power of the Minister to avert unmerited reproaches by taking the public into his confidence and letting them know what is. being done. When the Eail- [ ways Statement was _ before the House of Representatives last session he gave some general assurances that services temporarily suspended would bo reinstated as soon as men became available, and also in regard to the important improvement works which were planned in 1914 but were interrupted by the war before any appreciable progress had been made upon them. The immediate question,'however, is what has been and is being done to carry out' these assurances. At present the measures of the Department towards restoring and improving upon prewar services and facilities are shrouded in obscurity, and it is imperative that the facts of the situation should be disclosed. If the Minister 01? Railway's and his Department are simply waiting until staffing and other conditions so far improve as to enable them to' broaden out their operations theyare doing a good deal less than their duty. Admittedly, the limits of possible enterprise 'are set by such factors as the strength of the working staff available and the supply of essential materials, but a great' deal depends upon the_ spirit in which the Minister and his departmental officials attack the problems before them. In running the railways, as in other affairs, some difficulties exist only to be 'overcome. _ For instance, the process of building up the working staff will be slow or rapid accordingly as the right measures are or are not taken.' In the course of the Parliamentary debate which has been mentioned, Me. It. A. Wright, M.P., urged the Minister ok Railways to see what could be done towards expediting the repatriation of railwaymen now serving with the Expeditionary Force. The suggestion is sound, and the Minister certainly ought to do what is possible in this direction. Something is already being done in the way of giving priority in repatriation ancl demobilisation to men engaged in essentia] industries, and so much depends upon efficient railway transport that there can be no question that the Railways Department is entitled to benefit under this provision. The existing obscurity in regard to the vital questions which have been touched upon may be due in part to the fact that the Department is at present somewhat awkwardly placed whore its higher officers are concerned. • The General Manager (Mr. Hiley) is severing his connection with the Department at the end of March next, ancl the Assistant General Manager (Mr, M'Villy) has been laid aside by illness for some weeks past. Judging by the terms of his last annual report, Mr. Hiley will be much occupied during his remaining period in office in drafting out a scheme of improvements (additional to those planned in 1914) which are needed to bring the railways up to date and enable them to meet do-

mands in near prospect. Necessary as it is to look ahead, hoiveyer, if, is equally necessary that aIT possibleenergy and enterprise should bo shown in effecting early and rapid improvements in the existing conditions of railway transport. In the. years that lie ahead even more than in the past, good or bad administration of the railways'will do much to make or mar the general progress and development of this country. It must be evident also to anyone who read the Statement laid before Parliament last session that something more than steadygoing management is called for if the Dominion is to be provided with adequate railway transport facilities. The only thing that will meet the case is a hustling policy of enterprise. The position in a nutshell is that the railways are overtaxed, and arc bound to be still more seriously overtaxed during the next year or two even if everything possible is clone in the way. of extension and improvement. Years of enterprising improvement are needed to set the railways abreast of the march of general progress and development that can reasonably V>o anticipated. In his last report Mn. Hiley said on this subject:— The practical stagnation in progress on the authorised improvements, although doubtless unavoidable on account of tlie war, has been most disappointing to me, ant] a prospect of a continuation of the stagnation in respect of essential railway works will certainly be very disconcerting and a source of grave ansic.ty to those responsible, for the future management and working of the railways. , I cannot too strongly urge the necessity of pushing on energetically with the 1,914 progranyne at (he earliest possible moment. After pointing out that the prosecution of these works on a large scale will open up a profitable avenue of employment to a large number of returned soldiers—and this in itself is a consideration of capital importance—the General-Manager goes on i to state that The completion of Hie 19H programme cannot now lie expected earlier than the year 1.924. [As originally planned it would now lie approaching completion.! The Department will be greatly in need of the improvements embodied in this scheme as soon as the blighting effect of I war has lifted from New Zealand, and unless sanction is granted for a second programme of improvements to run concurrently with the t9U programme New Zealand railway facilities will.be insuffi; cient to cope with the business offering : in the near future. It is the business of the Government- and Parliament and of the country in general to see to it that the state of affairs of which the retiring General Manager speaks in such gravely warning terms is not allowed to arise, but.the immediate call made upon the Minister of Railways and his Department is imperative. The works embodied in the delayed 1914 programme include the construction of modern stations and yards at Wellington, Auckland, C'hristchurch, and a few smaller centres, together with some duplication and improvement of lines and workshop extensions. Even in the case of the new stations these improve- | monts are needed as much' in tbe interests of the back-blocks, as in those of the centres in which they arc located. It is obvious that a railway system cannot be as a whole efficient if it is lacking in adequate facilities at its termini and more important depots; As has been said, the Minister of Railways has given general assurances that. improvement works will be put in hand as soon as conditions permit and prosecuted with all possible energy, and this is satisfactory enough so far as it goes. But it is only by giving the freest rein to energv and enterprise that Ministers will satisfy the public that the Department is grappling as it should with its heavy responsibilities, and is not succumbing to the temptation to drift. ; I