The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY DECEMBER 20th 1924. RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY DECEMBER 20th 1924. RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Tin: press of the Dominion is centring quite a lot of interest on the subject of railway management, due to ilio changes the -Minister of Kailways is announ: ing. .Mr Coates is moving bystages. as if lie were anxious to see bow far tin: proposals were satisfying the public. Vet, the Minister has lieon quite long enough in oilin’ to have lormulatcd a complete policy long ere this. The advent of the Hailway Commission would have bail some oll'ort on tile Minister’s proposals because having invited the experienced gentlemen concerned. their suggestions and advice could not be ignored. Their report is now in the hands of the Government, and until it is published it is not dear whether the new order arises from the recommendations in the report or are oIT the Ministers own hat. The source however makes little difference in the end. if the results give, the benefits hoped for. As regards the management of any concern, it is in the end all a. question of individuality. It has l>een said very often that a committee of one is the most, effective form of management which just depends on the individuality of the person in charge. It does not follow that a set of commissioners such as it proposed, will do better than a single general manager. It is possible for the single* personage to excel any composite body. The benefits of control, whether centralised or otherwise, are all a matter of the ability on the part of those in control. Results do not come from a system automatically. but from the administration of the system efficiently, and it is just at that point where the individuality of those in control affett the position. The gentlemen who are being appointed to the control now. are experienced and highly spoken of. but experts though they may lie. there is a test before them as to tee application of their acquired, knowledge. They must have confidence in themselves ami the enthusiasm to forge ahead even to the length of striking out on new lines. There seems to be general agreement that the railway management is sadly obsolete. Very well, it requires to he changed, and both ability and courage are required to bring about effective changes. We had hoped that long ere this, the natural ability and pushfulness of the Minister would have manifested itself and brought about an improvement in vac mangement, which Tightly or wrongly, the people are rc-

qtiiring. Evidently from press remarks in liotli Cliristchureli and Wellington there were differences he tween the Genera! Manager and the Minister, and the former being the more experienced, prevailed. The Minister now lias the benefit of the Fay-Vincent report for his guidance, and that document is no doubt justifying; the piece-meal improvements which are about to lie attempted. Tile Commission lias evidently assisted to brine matters to a head, and for that, at least, the country may he grateful. For far too lone the management of the railways has drifted on. falling below expectations and not satisfy ill e the public users. The renewed activities now manifesting themselves in regard to the business side of the administration, will he appreciated and niueli will he hoped for. hut; it is not the system, as was remarked earlier, hut the spirit in which the work is attacked. and the success all counts on the individuality of those in authority for the time being.