The Railways.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1922, Page 4

The Railways.

BOARD TO ASSIST MANAGER. COMMERCIAL AGENTS APPOINTED. WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Hon D. H. Guthrie, as Minister of Railways, made the following statement on the subject of changes in connexion with railway management:— It will he remembered that on July 4th last, 1 made a statement to the House, detailing proposals with regard to reorganisation in the head office of the Railway Department by the appointment of a Board to relieve the Geenral Manager of a large amount of the work which at present occupies a considerable portion of his time, and also with regard to the decision to appoint commercial agents in the North and South Islands to enable the Department to keep in closer touch with the public and its requirements. So far as the appointment of a Board is concerned, T have indicated already that the object is to free the General Manager of such matters as are suitable for reference to the Board, to enable him to visit various parts of the Dominion and come into personal contact with the users of the railways, Chambers of Commerce, and other representatives bodies interested in railway matters to a much greater extent, especially in the recess, than is possible under existing conditions. It will be seen, therefore, that the matters that will he referred to the Board are such that the men appointed to it must necessarily have a wide experience of the working of the i ailwavs, and for this reason it has been decided to appoint the present heads of the traffic maintenance and locomotive branrhes of the Department whose railway experience will enable them, in collaboration as a Board, to render valuable assistance to the General Manager. The officers bidding ti es? positions at present are: — H. Buxton, chief traffic manager, Wellington. F. W. McLean, chief engineer.' E. E. Gillon, chief mechanical engineer. They are consequently those that will constitute the Board in the meantime. Efforts have been made in some quarters to convey the impression that no advantages can accrue from the Board as constituted, inasmuch as flic heads of the branches have been performing

those functions in the past, ft has been the custom for some lime past for tlie bends of branches to nicsi. at.

regular periods and discuss matters coming under their jurisdiction, n:i !

there is no intention to diseoutim:: these conferences, lender the now nr

rnligament, however, the Board wd! not only advise the General Maneg. i with regard to important matters, a in the oast, but also will lie called upon

to perform additional work, which is

at present occupying a large part o: the General Manager's time, thus m abling the General Manager to devot additional time to more impor'nni matters. COMMERCIAL AGENTS.

With regard to the appointment of commercial agents, it will be realis’d Me! it ha-' been necessary to exercise the utmost care in the selectim

officers to liil these positions, as (he personal factor- will hulk vary large in determining their success or failure in the many difficult and delicate tasks that wili fall to their lot. From opinions expressed, and from communications 1 have received, it is clear that in some quarters-disappointment iia - been IVlt been use the Goverument did not propose to appoint men with commercial knowledge from outside the service who would represent the commercial community. From this il Mould appear that an impression exists that tlie commercial agents will he attached to the Railway Board which is being set up to assist the management, whereas the agents will not he connected with the Board in any way. Naturally, however, the qui's'ion as to whether the agents weie to he railway officers or selected from outside the service was one that received most til refill consideration, and I wa.s quite satisfied, after going exhaustively into all the circumstances, that the appointment of suitable men with extensive railway experience and sufficient status, would lead to better an 1 quicker results than would he the ease if men were selected for the positions ir 'in outside the service.

As 1 lit* appointments arc being made to enable t! t» Department to brim' about adjustments as far as possible in (Onnexiou with any matters about which complaints mav be made, the agents will also meet and discuss with the business community questions arising from lime to time, and take such steps as may lie possible to adjust, matters in dispute. It is clear, therefore, I' at by appointing men of proved ability and wide railway experience in dealing with problems of railway transport. men of sound judgment and broad sympathies, and at tie same time possessing proper appreciation of the value of the representations lliai will be made to them by railway clients the aims of the Government are more likely to be successfully achieved from the inception of the scheme than would he the ttffie if the men were selected from outside, as the latter would not have the necessary knowledge of railway working to effect settlements (if disputes on the spot, or with the district traffic managers. The officers appointed to tlm positions are:— .). Mason for the North Island. I'\ A. Grant for the South Island. As I have stat ■ !, the greatest care Ims been taken i. 'electing these officers, and 1 am sure they possess all the necessary qualifications, and that the public may confidently rely on any representations made to them being adequately and sympathetically placed before the responsible beads of the Department from the public point of view while such matters as can be satisfactorily settled on the spot, or with local district officers, will receive prompt attention at their hands. Tt is not the intention of the Department to have officers stationed definitely in either island, but arrangements will be made for them to exchange positions from time to time, to enable them to gain the fullest experience in their new positions. Some delay has taken place in

bringing the proposals into operation, hut this has been due to a .large txtent to the heavy pressure of sessional work and the necessity of exercising the greatest care in giving effect la the arrangements. The commercial agents will take up their new positions practically straight away, and steps are now being taken which will result in the Hoard eom•mcncing its new activities at the same time, together with the consequent reorganisation of parts of the head office routine.

Fn conclusion? 1 may say Unit the steps now being taken are the result [ of very careful consideration, and 1 ■ ant fully convinced that the best results will be obtained in the mean- ‘ time by the Hoard as constituted, and , bv Lite appointment to the positions of commercial agents of suitable offi-j eers of the Railway Department. ! The Minister added that though the Hoards were being appointed from within the Department, there was no bar to the introduction of practical business knowledge from outside to assist in the management, if necessary.