THE PUTARURU PRESS. ’Phone 28 – – – P.O. Box 44 Office --- – Oxford Place THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1928. RAILWAYS MANAGEMENT.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 228, 15 March 1928, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS. ’Phone 28 - - - P.O. Box 44 Office --- - Oxford Place THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1928. RAILWAYS MANAGEMENT.

AFTER our last week’s article on railways management was written the announcement was made that the chairman of the Railways Board had resigned, and further changes were also suggested. We then proferred the opinion that it was essential to successful management that the railways should be completely divorced from political influence and congratulated Mr. Coates on having done more to stop the leaks in the system than any other Minister. Now that the occasion arises through the resignation of Mr. Jones we suggest that the time is opportune for a new and bold policy, for million-pound deficits demand drastic measures. Mr. Coates has earned a reputation as a Minister for ruthlessnesa when it became necessary on the score of efficiency, yet as Prime Minister he has at times been apparently vacillating and disinclined to take extreme measures. He now, however, has a great chance to put the railways system on a solid footing, and the only way this can be accomplished is by importing a manager from England and giving him complete control of the system. Of course such a proposal is bound to meet with opposition, yet the facts should be patent enough for all willing to see. It is no discredit to any now in the service to secure a manager from abroad, for it is utterly impossible for anyone trained locally to have gained the experience necessary, though he may be full of native ability. Nor can the necessary qualifications be acquired by a flying trip to the United States or the Old World, for though much may be learned on such visits it is essential for such a position that the Jjolder has been trained from youth upwards under conditions which are by no means reflected in the New Zealand system.

It is incorrect to state that this proposal has already been tried, for Such is not the case. Mr. Hiley, under the terms of his agreement, was bound hand and foot and at the beck and call of a Minister more fitted for the academy than for holding

j such a portfolio When’ Sir Edward Thornton was lasked to control and bring up to date the Canadian National Railways he was far-seeing enough to realise the impossibility of working under polij tical control. Thus it was that he threatened to return to England unless freedom from politieal control was made an essential feature of his agreement. After much negotiation this point was conceded and Mr. Thornton assumed control. The results are now known throughout the world, for he has raised the national system there, against keen competition from the Canadian Pacific Railways, from a fblapidated and moribund condition, with huge attendant losses, to the ! position it now occupies—a paying line and the most popular system in j Canada. i , To Secure the right man it is neces- J

*arv that the remuneration must be made attractive, and the minimum 1 Sifior should be one of five figures ! 1 yearfV-- Such a figure is after all but I a negligible one compared to the I huge loss 0 £'1,000,000 yearly, and in }, i view of the .numerous changes which have been madt? in ; our railways manj a lf e ment since its first; inception, all With the same leaHt: the obvio.us U inference is that nev/' and drastic • measures must be tried 1C m,?r£ e i wit \ such an vi

l : us 03 course be the absolute-- ahai I don men tof political control t-fta I bv°Z T be carried out S6IU _ ; . nent. This method of course i supposed to be in operation to day I , *° lon S as political influences car ; be brought to bear it can ■ ; n , Appeal boards and such like are ing fo/ anS ’ meth «ds of cater--11 for uZ SeTUOr,ty a ” d incompetent, ! ! control Z manaSer given com mTnut es r h tte , rS WOuld be titled in f , while ' h,ch now take months, the ; j wayside P s tatil s ta!ent lan » uißhes by ' for T suchTch S a eemS undoub tedly ripe , has th ge> and if Mr. Coates I tion tU !f Ce tb * opposT! j from those SH I he A Z U h T WeH by '