The Guradian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, MAY. 9th, 1924. THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1924, Page 2

The Guradian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, MAY. 9th, 1924. THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

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I ilkhk will he more 1 agreement wilii the views of the ‘IW (Wellington) than is generally imagined in i-eear.l to the desire to see the Hon. Minister ol Railways carry out such reforms ns are necessary, rather than delega te to a Royal Commission the task of making representations. .Mr Coates has hut lately completed a tour of the Dominion railways and 'must have formed definite opinions in regard to various matters. His tQiir, wo take it. was to see for himself what could he done to improve the railway service, and having covered the ground as fully as lie has ( heard the public requests at every stopping place, and studied the whole situation from the inside (for lie had all his principal officers with him) should now he in a position to say what is host for the country in the way of railway reforms. In the ordinary course his next Railway Statement should embody his proposals, and having enunciated his policy, with the backing of Parliament, he could put it into effect. With the proposed Commission there will be long drawn

out delays, and great cost in the bargain. And when the findings of the Commission are known there is not any guarantee that the Government will adopt the recommendations as Its policy. On the contrary such criticism as the Commission will offer (for which there i? room) will he replied to by tbo Department from its own point of view. The Minister is zealous enough to stand by his officers, and so we may expect that the repoit in a measure at least will be duly pigeon-holed, and the service will retain its indifferent ipintities indefinitely. The suggestion for tin l Commission was put forward hv the Prime Minister. Mr Massey is tactician enough to know how useful Royal Commissions are for staving off unpleasant action. A general election is always more or loss imminent, and it is conceivable the Commission is to be something of a red herring to decoy public opinion from the scent it is on in regard to many reforms now asked for till ovoi the Dominion. Jt is to he regretted if this surmise is correct, for in a genuine desire to reform the railway service "e would much prefer to trust the Minister in charge now that he lias covered the ground necessary to acquire the liiil'oriiiiition needed. Apart from his honesty of purpose, there is the fact that the departmental it dorms lit* promised would Ik* entitled to early attention. The officers would not In* answering back. All tin* criticism they had to offer would he done in camera when the Minister dismissed details with the official heads. Such being the case, the plea of the •‘Evening Post" fop Ministerial actioh ratlicr than a report by a Commission more or h**s unwieldy, and probably partisan, is certaililv to be endorsed. Mr Coates lias so won public lavnr of late Gait the public in the aggregate would be willing to trust him in the part of going on with the railway reforms which he is persuaded are necessary.