SIR OTTO NIEMEYER

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1930, Page 5

SIR OTTO NIEMEYER

VIEWS ON N.Z. RAILWAYS,

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association.j

AUCKLAND, Nov. 17

The railway question in New Zealand is very important and can land you into a good deal of trouble and loss if things go wrong, said Sir Otto Niemeyer in an interview. I lielieve that under modern conditions the railways can pay only if extraordinarily and efficiently managed. I make no aspersions on tlie Railway Department, but obviously what might be efficient in the railways might not suit, certain political views or localities. Ho quoted the system adopted in many European states, whidi before the war had ordinary state railways. Those stater, while retaining ownership, placed the railways management under an independent board having perhaps a whole time chairman and directors who were non-offi-cials. They were given absolute control except of the borrowing, but including such things as rates and decisions concerning the new construction. He quoted the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Victorian Electricity Commission as examples of a movement toward a new form of administration of quasi commercial state undertakings.

OPINION OF NEW ZEALAND

AUCKLAND. Nov. 17

Given snnity and sobriety, I think New Zealand will be alright, declared Sir Otto Niemeyer, in an interview aboard the Niagara on which he is returning to England. ‘‘l think you have had some examples of the dangers ahead of von,” he added. The question is whether heed will he paid to them. You cannot hone to escape entirely the effects of the world depression and there is hound to ho a reaction. A good mane things which in other days might have been desirable, cease to be desirable now. Anyhow, 1 am an optimist about New Zealand. I wish I were 85 and then I would stay here.

LONDON, November 14

Commenting on Sir Otto Niemeyer’s departure from Australia, the “financial News,” says:—We regret that his frank, convincing exposure of Australia’s eco.nomjc maladies lias thus far proved dsappointingly ineffective. Little progress towards positive reconstruction lias been made. There can he no glossing over, tlie fact that the Commonwealth Government lias failed to live up to its fixed determination of less than three months ago.