RAILWAY REFORM

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1920, Page 4

RAILWAY REFORM

The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has drawn up the following scheme with regard to the construction and management of the N.Z. Railways :—The United Chambers of Commerce and other bodies in this Deminion having considered the question of the control and management of the State-owned railways, are of the opinion that the present organisation and control of our railways system is unbusinesslike; wasteful, and financially unsound; and that capable and responsible officers are frequently hindered ih their work by political considerations. Tt is therefore determined to recommend to the Government and to the people of this Dominion tliat tho State railways, being a huge business enterprise, and not a political organisation, should be placed under a National Board of Control, to be kiltiwn as the New Zealand Government Railway Board, consisting of duly accredited and capable business men, aided by experts free as may be possible front political influence. It is therefore recommended as follows :

1. —A Railway Board to be appointed to take over all existing railways both operating and in course of construction, and all existing railway surveys, estimates and records. 2. —Tlie board to be responsible to the Government and Parliament: (a) For management of railways; (b) for recommendations to Government and Parliament as to railway construction; (c) all railway construction authorised by Parliament. 3 .—(a) All reports aitd recommendations of the hoard to the Government to be laid before Parliament in session and printed for public information; (b) the Governor-General may by Or-der-in-Coitncil exercise the power to veto in respect to any act of the board which may, in the opinion of his responsible officers, be contrary to the public interest; (c) all moneys allocated by Parliament to the Railway Department for new construction, maintenance, repairs, or for any other purpose not provided for out of current railway revenue, shall be debited to the Railway .account and with interest thereon; (d) it shall be the duty of the Railway Board to issue annually a true statement of accounts in the form of an ordinary commercial bar ance-slieet giving details of the trading accounts and profit and loss accounts.

4. —The New Zealand Railway Board shall consist of the Hori Minister of Railways, and seven other members: — One member appointed by the Government, who shall be the official chairman of the board; two members appointed by Parliament assembled.; one member representing commerce, manufacture and mining, to be known as section 1 of elected members: one member representing the agricultural, pastoral and farming interests generally, to be known as section 2; one member representing the United Federation of Labour, to be known as sestion 3 of the elected members; one member representing united interests of employees in tne entire staff of the Railway Department, to be known as section 4 of the elected members. 5. —The four elected members of the board shall be elected by an electoral college, consisting of the following persons:—Five persons chosen by each of the following:—Associated Chambers of Commerce, Industrial Corporation of New Zealand, New Zealand Farmers’ Union, New Zealand Agricultural and Pastoral Associations and the United Federation of Labour. Three persons each chosen by the United Railways Service of New Zealand, and the Coal, Gold, and Mine Owners’ Associations. 6. —Each of the bodies named in clause 5 herein may nominate three persons, but not more than three, for one of the seats represented by a section. Tho elections shall be held every three years. The elections shall be conducted by such person as the Hon Minister of Railways may appoint.