N. Z. RAILWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1932, Page 8

N. Z. RAILWAYS

MORE CO-ORDINATION DESIRED

WITH ROAD TRANSPORT .SERVICES. THE HERMITAGE (Mount Codk), December 6. Co-ordination of road and rad services was one of the subjects touched upon by Air E. S. Hrittendeii; 'District Traffic Manager of Railways, in a speech delivered -at the Hermitage, : ; toi a; iiU'geigarhJifying of psople interested in: tije/t/lQ.urjst ijftnd transpoit business of ‘TV may- be felt by sonle of those present,” said Mr Rrittenden, “that the railways—the parent service—have a feeling of antagonism toward the motor services but that is not the case. There is’ " ample scope for both forms of transport, each in its own particular sphere, but necessarily in co-ordination with the other.

“That co-ordhirtion is, of course, the ideal to be aimed at if we fire to eliminate economic wasto and ensure dependable service at a reasonable cost to the Dominion as a whole.” The Railways-Board, said Mr Brittenden, had shown that it was prepared to adopt the proper spirit in. resect of co-ordination, and in .seme cases it hid not ■> hesitated ' to; withdraw passenger services when it had been found that the traffic could be more, economically handled by motdr vehicles, ■ '■with ultimate benefit to the taxpayers of the Dominion. In doing so, the Board Was carrying out the charter handed to it by the Government to run the railways on business lines.

A SLOGAN OF SERVICE. The slogan 0 f the. Railways Board, the General Manager, executive officers, rind every individual employed by the Department, was “Give service.” That slogan had given all members a lead which had been reflected in the reversal cf feeling of the people in respect of the railways, so hat now letters and messages of appreciation more than balanced the complaints received. “While, speaking generally, the railwayman of to-day is required to work harder, he is loyal to his Department, keen on his job, and has an earnest desire to meet the requirements of the public in a manner giving the customer 100 per cent service and the Railways Board 100 per cent efficiency. “A wide investigation of all posible avenues leading to economy has been made, with the result that following a reduction* of £476,049 in expenditure in the year ended on March 31st, 1931, n further* reduction' of 5 £1',21T,855* '’was* made in the year- ended March , 31st last. The fall in revenue last year was £1,062,589, so that our. savings- i» expenditure'were in excess of the fall in revenue. Actually a drop of 17.61 percent. in expenditure set'off a drop of 14.03 per cent in revenue.

“In effecting these economies,” continued Air Brittenden,’"“tbe Railways Board has in'no' way reduced the standard of maintenance or service. It has indeed, kept pace with the times. Our trunk line express cars have been replaced with ears which bear comparison with those on railways elsewhere, and the cars in service on out ordinary trains provide improved seating accomodat on. The- provision of this new stock anticipates a return to normal times.”

SOUND ECONOMIC BASIS. Th railways, said e the speaker, Mere now organised on a sound • economic br.sis, and were in a condition to handle much additional traffic at sna 1 additional cost. ■ Additions to • net revenue made a direct and equal decrease in the costs bolne by the Consolidated Fund. The railways were the largest employers of labour in the Dominion (th© wages bill was' £4,000,000 a year) and the Board purchased each year £2,000,000 worth of material, much of which was brought from producers and manufacturers in New Zealand. The railways were able to pay out of earnings the whole of their working expenses, make reasonable provision for depreciation, and pay a portion of the interest on the capital invested in them.

“The Railways Board,” said Mr Brittenden, “aims at meeting the whole of the burden which falls cm it in meeting the deficit.” *