WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1931, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

RAILWAY REFORM. FREED FROM POLITICIANS. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, June 11 BotlP tile local (I lily papers applaud the personnel of the Hoard of Dilectors selected by the Governinnet to control the railways of the Dominion. •‘The Board is well balanced and should command the confidence of commercial and producing interests,” says the “Post". after thin'.-six hours of contemplation. * ‘‘lt is particularly peratifvinjr that the Government having resolved to sepal*, ate the railways from politics, has {riven proof of its complete sincerity by disregarding political opinions in its choice of directors. The members of the Hoard have been chosen solely for their experience and capacity.” The “Dominion” in this respect is no less appreciative than its evening contemporary in recognising the soundness of the Cabinet’s choice, “The Government is says, “can he congratulated on securing a personnel that will command general respect. To select five men for such a Board could not have been an easy matter, but it seems to he well balanced.” Recognition of this kind from a political opponent i s praise indeed, NO POLITICS, Hiis political friends, -find, indeed. Ids acquaintances of any colour, can not lmve expected the Prime Minister to bo influenced by party politics in nominating members of the Railway Hoard, As it happens, however, ho has selected two of his political opponents for seats on the Hoard—Mr Edward Newman and Sir James Gunson —and has been ahi > to do so with complete confidence in their cllicicncy and impartiality. Mr Newman occupied a seat in the House uf Representatives ,or some years wilii advantage' tn his constituents and the community at large, and Sir James Gunson. though failing in his attempts to reach Parliament, ha.filled many public offices of importance with thoroughness and ability. The other members of the Board arc no less well qualified for the duties they have undertaken than are the gentlemen just mentioned. Taken all in all, indeed, .Mr IG>rhc s and his colleagues seem to bate made a very excellent selection. A BiG TASK. The morning paper while eulogising; in a general way the choice of the G vernment, is alive to the magnitude of the task it has placed upon the shoulders of its nominees. “Th railways are tlu* black spot in the Budget, accounting for about half of last year’s deficit,” it says. ‘This year they arc expected to make a contribution of only •£850,000 ;to the national revenues, whereas the interest on the capital invested in them must approximate £2,750,000 annually. Recently the sum of £.10,000,000 lias been written off tile capital account which now stands a; about £47,400,000. At the statutory rate of 4f per cent., the annual interest bill is about two millions, towards meeting which the railways in the year e nded March 31. last could Pud only £OBB,OOO in net revenue and that without making adequate provision fm reserves.” ft is obvious that a eery formiuabi task lies before the Board. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. The evening paper in a somewhat different key strikes a similar note, “The Board has a hard and baffling task,” it says of the obvious. “A majority in Parliament has approved of non-political control, and we tm.-.t that the appoval will be proved sincere—that the board will be given an opportunity to show its worth without attemps to undermine its authority tv thwart its endeavours. The politicianmust prove that they have not merely given lip service to a principle, but a,re prepared to stand by the practice of the principle. This is a very necessary warning, for though m n-pclitical control has been widely demanded wo cannot be sure that its operation will be as widely welcomed.” All of which is very true. The first non-political control of the railways endured from the close of the eighties to the middle of the nineties, and since tlm .Mr Forbes is the only Prime Minister to thi.ro its restitution.