The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30th, 1924. THE RAILWAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30th, 1924. THE RAILWAYS.

There are signs that something special is to happen in and about the administration of the railways. This is apparent from the wholesale reorganisation in sight and from the retiring scheme about to he put in force. It would appear that this is part of the policy of reform to be carried out by Mr Coates, who but lately took over the control of the portfolio of Railways. Necessarily, the Minister could not set about reforms till he had fully gua-ged the- position. He appears to he doing this somewhat thoroughly—and very properly so. Ho has made the matter a subject fur close personal review, and has been travelling all over the Dominion to see local situations for himself. It is conceivable to believe that he has long ago seen enough to justify a course of action, and so, from now on. there should be a line of reformation going forward in the Railways Department which will tend in the end to satisfy the rather persistent public demands rife all over tho Dominion. Mr Coates could not he going and coming up- and down New Zealand without discovering that there was a feeling of dissatisfaction in general about the conduct of the railways. His daily post trust be giving him evidence of this, j.i the many requests and complaints made to him. The handling of the railways is not a simple matter. There is an enormous, amount of capital sunk in the system, and tho task of meeting

all demands is not a light one. Hie public knowledge is often superficial, hut the public in the aggregate have a way of being practical, and the reel nests are in the main fair. That is. what they ask for is in the public interests, and for the betterment of local conditions—-the sum of which means iueaaseil trade and accompanying prosperity. Unfortunately, the management of the railways is governed by a cast iron system wherein too often public interests seem to be ignored. There are of eour.se many sides to the administration of tlui railways now that it has become so directly a politically controlled concern. The staffing and working hours are now governed by trade union conditions, which take little concern of the eject on the public purse, though, in point of fact, il any departn'.< at is to be managed with any degree of consideration for economy, the financial side of the question should have first consideration. There is the tendency for lavishness in all publieowned ventures. So much is this so that where Labour Governments have gone the whole way in State controlled ventures, it is the common experience for sucli to break down financially, leaving the public to pay up the heavy national loss incurred. Our railways have been tending that way, and at the some time, costly as they have been have not been giving the public service tliov should. So it is time internal reforms were brought about. . whereby too old order might change and the railways he made more useful to the public who are called upon to pay all the time. Mr Coates has an important responsibility in this matter. He hits been very reticent in regard to his policy. Cut ho has had time now to look round and formulate a, scheme oi betterment, which cannot ho put into force too soon. 11 we have gtiaged the position aright wo shall expect the Minister of Railways to assert himself in a very positive manner at no distant date.