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Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1918, Page 2

Thk Minister of Railways lias offered a lengthy explanation in regard to the reduction of train services, hut it cannot be said, in the light of local obseivations, that it is convincing. Besides, there are the oft repeated stories abroad that the reduction was purely a display of pique on the part of the higher railway officials in regard to the action oi the military service boards in dealing with the cases of reservist railway men. Be that as it may, it is obviously clear in this district that the railway plant was not used to the best advantage when opportunities for revenue earning presented themselves. There is the case in point whei'e organisations asked that the ordinary train service bo varied for special occasions, and this done to meet the public convenienep, the organisations offered to defray any cost to the Department for overtime or advertising. There was not extra mileage involved in this, I no extra cost to the Department but much increased revenue. It would have been thought with a Department showing a deficiency of over £300,000 on previous years’ revenue and expenditure, the management would have had some desire to help make up the leeway. There was likewise, the affront to the people by those managing the railways, in refusing to stop certain trains at particular stations. There was no sense in this action, for it created unnecessary waste, besides disgusting the public with the form of “revenge” taken by the higher officials. While the high opinion expressed by Mr Tlerries in regard to his staff will he approved generally, the exception will lie in regard to those stupidly crass officers who took their “revenge” on a long suffering public. Apropos of the bonus the country would have preferred the Ministry to deal with the cost- of living, and so have given all a chance to. participate. The restoration of certain trains just amended, also seems to discount som* of the Minister’s special pleading, of which perhaps njore anon.

The Committee- sot up at Greymouth on ) Monday to go into the question of furthering the interests of the timber industry, does not appear to have a very l definite constitution or standing, From time to time in the past various Royal Commissions have advised the Government of the clay on different aspects of the timber industry of the forestry question. Yet a.s far ns it known, the tomes of reports still crowd the shelves in Wellington, and the recommendations go unnoticed. If some branch of the Government or of the National efficiency Board were to analyse these reports and recommendations, there would be much useful information gleaned in regard to national work requiring attention. The most the proposed district committee could do would be to advise the authorities in regard to local conditions upon some line of policy decider upon, and give useful points about the detail work. The initial movement, it would appear, should come from headquarters. Whatever is attempted will involve cost, and it is for tlio Government to provide the means. That assured, a scheme could be worked out in keeping with local conditions. Outside of this it iS difficult to see what real utility the' proposed committee can be. Certainly, there are men of practical experience of local knowledge on the committee, and their services, would be most useful in the direction we have indicated. Unless their scope of operations is definitely determined their Work will be of little real value: Any reports from them might be of as little State recognition as the valuable reports of Royal Commissions already referred to stowed away on the shelves in Wellington,