LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 246, 11 July 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

RAILWAYMANAGEHENT Sir,— Many of your readers have,, been eagerly looking through your recent columns, for some pronouncement on the railway failure. Several years ago, when the Dank of Xew Zealand was a much smaller institution than it is now, and was then in 'difficulties, it was considered' that the interests of the whole colony were involved, and the Ministry of the day and Parliament took very active measures to preserve the bank, with gratifying:' success.

The opinion of many is that the failure of tlie railway at this juncture is a most serious menace to the industries and commerce of the Dominion, quite as serious as any bank smash could have, been, yet neither the Government nor the Railway Department seem to be making any desperate effort to continue the country's business So far as 1 can be seen, .the whole thing is being taken lying down, with a sort of tired feeling which is quite fatal if allowed to continue.

There are two , outstniiding features which lead many to think that the Railway Department is not efficient. First, the Department must have seen (he coal, shortage coming on for months' past. That being so, a gradual reduction of Hie service would have been more businesslike than the drastic cuf now made, with such sudden swiftness, and practically without warning. Second, whilst not objccrinir to a few barrels of beer or whisky being carried on the grounds of efficiency oiie does object to these goods being given preference over, sal, building materials, cement, ironmongery, n ,ic; mich preference causing a lot of work in the country to be stopped. ■ ' I The present railway management bavins: failed to keep the service moving, and up to the needs of the country's business, one asks why should not the management bo treated the same as they would be any private undertaking?

Cabinet should be iiskcd to at once, nppoint a committee of men accustomed to business management to retrieve the present disaster, such committee, to have full power to take any action they think fit 'to -restore the railways to normal running. Through our railway routes flows the life-blood of our industry'and commerce, and this drastic curtailment is the most serious blow at our prosperity that has. been struck for many a long day—l am, etc.. LARGE COUNTRY RAILWAY USER.