NEW RAILWAY CHIEF

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 116, 10 February 1919, Page 4

NEW RAILWAY CHIEF

ME, E, W. M'VILLY APPOINTED. Mr. R. W. M'Villy, Assistant General Manager of Railways, has been appointed General Manager, to succeed Mr. h. a.. Hiley as from April 30 next. Mr. Hiley was appointed for a term, and that term expired in August last He desired that he should be released then, but he was persuaded to main the position until the end of the financial year. It is Mr. Hiley's intention to return to England as soon as he is released by the Department. Mr. M'Villy is the best-known man m the railway service, and as he dealt with all staff matters during Mr. Hiiey a term of office, ho was nioro or less regarded as chief during that time l-y the men of tho semcu. He lias been in the service forj (lie whole of his working life, and has worked prodigiously iiurd for his employers, the Government of New Zealand. He had no easy path to his present high position, for he had to work through all the grades until he became chief clerk under Mr. T. lionayue, who was manager before Mr. Hiley was appointed." When .Mr. Hilsy arrived here ho found that Mr. M'Villy was in effect Assistant General Manager, and he told the Government this, recommending at the same time that ho be given the rank and tho pay. The Government accepted the advice, and for the past Svo years Mr. M'Villy has' had the, title of Aesistant General Manager. It is admitted that no one in the service knows more about tho Department than Mr. M'Villy, and that if the Government had determined upon the policy of appointing a General Manager from the present service, there was no one who had a claim comparable with that of Mr. M'Villy. There iva3 a circumstantial story published eouio little time ago to tho effect that it was intended that the position should, go to Mr. R. Triggs at present Public Trustee, and formerly Assistant Public Service Commissioner. The Minister of Railways says that this story was a pure fabrication, and that Mr. Triggs's name was never mentioned when the appointment was Using considered by Cabinet. No applications were called for the position.