THE RAILWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1929, Page 3

THE RAILWAYS

V COST OF WORKSHOPS. ‘ CRITICISM IN HOUSE. VIGOROUS DEFENCE BY MR ' s ? . . • COATES. WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. ' The late Government’s action in reorganising the railway workshops policy was vigorously defended by the Leder of the Opposition (Hon Mr Coates) in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister for Railways (the Hon. Mr; Taverner), who also took part in the debate, said' his personal opinion at the moment was that .the provision made was greater than waa necessary, adding that he thought it would have been better to have extended the facilities as they were required. 'Discussipn on a return on the cost of

the new shops was opened by Mr J. S. Fletcher, Government member for Grey Lynn, who said he understood that the costs of,the new workshops would be

£900,000 more than the estimate. There was something wrong somewhere, and the officers responsible should be asked for an explanation. The Minister'for Railways said he was somewhat surprised at this late stage to find members not conversant with, the position. It had been stated that the policy of the Government in regard to railway workshops was more or ■ less a joke, but he assured the

House that that was not the viewpoint of those competent to express f an/opinion on the matter. It had been ; contended that the provision made by the former Government was too great. also been contended however, that more shops should be established. As to whether the provision made was too, great time alone would tell. Since he i had been in charge. of the Department he had done all he possibly could to get the information required before coming to a considered opinion, but he submitted that the necessary data could not be collected in a few weeks. Indeed, if it were it would not be'Of much use. When the present Government came into office nineten this of the contracts were under way, an dbad to be carried to completion. It had been suggested that if tne officers of the Department had been mistaken in their estimates their services should not be retained. Mr R. Semple, Labour membfer for Wellington East: We want to know why -they made such blunders. The Minister: If I find that officers of the;Department have been guilty of that kind of thing I will certainly call them .to account. My own opinion at

the moment is that the provision made was greater than was necessary. I think it would have been better to have adopted a policy of developing as the facilities were required. Labour members: Hear Hear 1 <

The Minister: We have to accept the position as we find it. I can assure the House that responsible officers of the Department have the matter in hand and are carrying out theijj wprk in what I believe to be a proper and business-like manner.

“I don’t think the Minister for Railways need be nervous about taking over the responsibility of the workshops” said the Leader of the Opposition.' The mechanical engineers in the employ of the New Zealand Railways were just as efficient as those in any part of the British Empire, said Mr Coates. It had been stated that the new shops would cost half a million more than they were estimated to cost, but- such an assertion was entirely misleading. The idea of distributing the work of heavy' repairs was wrong. As a result of the Reform Party’s policy engine mileage had been increased from 25,000 to 75,000 miles before heavy repairs were necessary.

, Mr Veitch: Hoav many are falling to pieces?

Mr Coates said that for,years the engineers had urged that the shops should be brought up-to-date.

The Minister for Defence (the Hon Mr Wilford): There are machines at Petone costing thousands of pounds which have never been used. - Mr Coates disagreed, adding that he was thoroughly conversant with the subject under discussion. Mr Wilford: I know What I am talking about, too. Mr Coates : There is not a machine in' New Zealand costing thousands of pounds which has not brought down the cost of the article it is producing. Mr Wilford: When in use.

Mr Coates: They are in use. There may be machines that are not working a hundred per cent, or in other words,, their full capacity. Mr Wilford: Or even 50 per cent. Mr Coates: Never mind if they are only working 35 per cent, of their capacity, the cost of the manufactured article was never less than it is to-day. Mr Wilford: Oh, no 1 Mr Coates: It is no use saying, “Oh, no!”

Mr Wilford: I have studied the question. Mr Coates : The lion, gentleman may have studied the.question, but there is no man in this country who is expected to know more about it than I do. T had to be the one who made the decisions on the recommendation of the officers of the Department. I will never believe that there is a machine in the workshops, which designed to fit in

1 with the new order of things, is not giving 100 per cent, value. Mr Wilford : Oh, yes, there is I I ‘‘Wait a minute. lam making this speech,” retorted Mr Coates, who re- | peated the statement that the machines were giving full value. | Mr Wilford: You mean when they are working at full capacity ? Mr Speaker said there were too many interruptions. He asked that the Leader of the Opposition be allowed to make his speech. Mr Coates said his argument was that the . articles were being produced more cheaply by the new machines than was the case before. It was also to be remembered that there were still credits to be taken into consideration, such as the Newmarket shop' and the old sites at Newmarket and Petone. He believed that New Zealand had first-class mechanical engineers. They were good enough for the previous Government and he ventured to say were good enough for any Govrnment, for years to come. ••"s Quoting information given him bv men thoroughly conversant with the work at the East Town shop near Wanganui Mr H. E. Holland, Leader i of the Labour Party, said unnecessary expenditure had been incurred for machinery which was unsuitable. Some machinery for East Town, A points and crossings shop, had not even been unpacked. Mr Coates: Who told you that ? Mr Holland: Men who are inside the shop and know what is going on. Mr Coates: Pretty vague,- isn’t it? Mr Holland: The information was given by men who might have been within the reach of victimisation once, but they are not now. Mr Wilford said it was indisputable that a huge waste of money bad taken place through the construction of the new shops.

Replying to the discussion. Mr Fletcher said the return showed that the cost of the workshops was 60 per cent, in excess of the estimate, and he wanted to know if the Government was still dependent on the same technical advisors responsible for the estimates. He could not' understand the attitude of the present Minister for Railways in saying he could not supply immediately the information sought in w' gard to workshops generally, and the installation of the machinery. Mr Fletcher thought the information could have been obtained within a month.