WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. LONDON CRITIC ISM. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. It must be confessed that the -Minister and the General Manager are not entirely convincing in their replies to the London criticism of the management of the Dominion’s railways. The "Financial Times” the other day, it will be remembered, gave very wide publicity to a feature of the Government's railway policy—ail inheritance it must be admitted, from previous Governments—which has been much discussed in this country. "One ol' the features of the administration,” it said, referring to the last annual Railwav Statement, “that will not lie regarded with unmitigated satisfaction is the virtual subsidising of industry at the expense of transportation. Thus we iiml that many service- are performed below cost, which means at the cost of other users and of the taxpayers. Lime for manuring farmlands was carried 4,600,000 ton-miles lor a trifle over a farthing a ton per mile. Butter, cheese and road-metal, the hitter being for the benefit of motor competition and entailing a lo>s of 069,009 per annum, were in much the same position.” The ••Financial Times” goes on to say, quite truly, that there are other instances in which exceptionally low rates have been granted to assist in establishing industries which now well might stand on their own feet. DEVELOPING THE COUNTRY. Of course the contention of t he .Minister and the General .Malinger is that in the administration of the Railway Department they have to consider the development of the country as well as the financial side of the service. The “Financial Times" appears to have anticipated this retort and io have turned it to account rather neatly. "The Minister, it observes in the course of its article, •'.states that any increase in freight rates at this juncture to enable the railways to earn interest charges would tend to divert more traffic to the roads. We imagine that a solution of the problem could bo found in ceasing to subsidise flourishing or competitive industries.” It certainly does appear a little quixotic for the Department to be carrying moia! til a heavy loss in order that the local bodies may build cheaply roads that come into competition with the railways. Apparently the Hon .J. G. Coates and Mr AleVillcy both approve of this policy, and ii obviously sorves useful purposes in encouraging settlement and increasing production: but tbe General Manager protests that his Depart men i is not always given credit for the manner in which it assists in promoting the agricultural welfare of the country. ACCOUNT KEEPING.

There is some ground for Mr Mi A' 1 lv's dissatisfaction with the method ot account keeping. A year of two ago a local organisation of business men strongly urged lbe Government to institute a system of account keeping that would show what the various State Departments were doing on the financial side. There were many difficulties in the way, arising chiefly lrom the fact that the functions of the Departments varied so widely that no two could keep their accounts in precisely the same way. But fortunately the idea found favour with the Audi-tor-General and the representations that gentleman was able to make to the Cabinet ultimately led to its adoption. The svstem still is far from complete, but it is making progress, and has been warmly eulogised by the Minister of Kin,nice, who sees in it a strong incentive towards more careful administration and greater economy. But the position of the Railway Department remains difficult because it continues to render services to other Departments which have not yet been brought into account. The loss on the carriage of road metal, lor instance, should lie charged to the Public Works Department, ilie loss on the carriage of lime to the Department of Agricult tire and so on. This would not fully meet the content ion put forward by the "Financial Times,” but, if would show what tbe Railway Department reallv was earning. E XIIIHITION COM MISSIONED.

Very general satisfaction is being expressed here at the appointment of Air A. F, Roberts as New Zealand Commissioner at the Empire Exhibition in London. Air Roberts is bead of tbe well-known linn of .Messrs .Murray Roberts and Co. and in addition to a wide knowledge of tile Dominion’s conditions and affairs lie lias exceptional experience in such positions as tile one to which he now has been appointed. "Air Roberts,” the "Dominion” says ibis morning, in offering the country its eingnitulations upon the appointment.

"is particularly well versed in matters pertaining to our great primary industries; be has sliqwn on different occasions Hint be is an excellent, organiser and possessed of tho gilt ol stimulating the enthusiasm of those witn whom lie is associated ; while the social side of the Commissioner’s duties under his care should be in excellent hands. With suitable assistants, Air Roberts may he relied on to see that New Zealand’s interests at the Exhibition, so far as they lie within his control, are well attended to, and that no chance is missed to make the most of this groat opportunity of directing attention to the attractions of tins Dominion and the merit of .t, pi,elite: Afr Roberts will leave to 'aka up Ins duties with the w arm goodw ill c f the whole community.