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Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1929, Page 4

The impression left by the Minister of Railways as a result of his short visit lo the district, appears to lie a very avourable one. Mr Taverner i.s evidntly a vtv capable member of tin* ew ( abinct or he would ml. he enrusted with the four important purtol:os he holds. He is of good and pleasant, ad dross, and has acquired in a cry slant time, the knack of dealing blatantly with those who address him. aturVtllv liis civic s. rvice in Dunedin, here lie was elected to the highest nisition in the gift of the citizens, in:Laie him to he a man of capabilities, nil such ne is proving to he. ’The h .ice ol Sir Joseph Ward when fuming his Cabinet was limited by the numerical strength of liis party, hut his immediate followers were men of worth, and his choice was such that it is being predicted the Tife of tin Wa.t*- Ministry i.s indeterminate so far as polities can lie gauged at tin’s juncture. One contribution to that position i.s the capable Ministry Sir Joseph has about him, and of course the special reason is the outstanding capabilities of the leader himself who has returned to office just at a time where there is special work for him to do in the endeavour to straighten out the finances 1,1 HlO country, and so maintain the credit of the Dominion. The Minister oi Railways has a special part in the restoring the country’s genera] credit. It i.s not a light task to manipulate

'» jMhm/'Pv of the railways so'that the deficit in that quarter can he retrieved. Of course .Air Taverner lias the assistance of Air Sterling as an export in railway administration, but points of policy and decision rest primarily on the AI inister. it is very cmouragiiig to find as Air Taverner stated here tliis week, that there is a basis lor action in the task of making the railways pay. That basis is in regard to goods traffic which has increased greatly of late, reaching record dimensions. Naturally, as the country progresses through the general political policy, so the railway returns must grow, and Air Taverner must lay his plans accordingly. Another imiwirinnt task he has is in respect to the Forest Service The expenditure under that ■mad will have to he reviewed in relation to the economic return under the ire.selit policy, and the Alinister has work waiting lor him in regard to the necessary revision. On the face of things the Alinister appears capable ul tackling the work in the right spirit. Hid working along such lines he can do the country very great service* indeed.