RAILWAY ADVISORY BOARDS.

Shannon News, 12 November 1926, Page 4

RAILWAY ADVISORY BOARDS.

TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT. ) The following eirerular has, been issued by the Minister of Railways, to various ■ local bodies and Chambers of Commerce: — “As outlined in the annual railway statement, thp Government has decided to’ encourage the establishment of District Advisory Boards on railways matters, in order to form a common meet-ing-ground between, the users of. the railway and the Railway Department • for the better understanding of railway problems, and to engender a spirit of co-operation and mutual assistance. The under-mentioned as some of the conditions o'f establish-, meat: — - , The Advisory Boarcis to deal with transportation problems, and all matters of mutual coneern to the user and to the Railway Department. Business agents and other selected railway officers to be in attendance at meetings to impart information or collect material for reports to management, the conclusions reached by the Boards to be placed- before, the Department through the Divisional Superintendent and Commercial Manager of Railways. * The associations to be voluntary, i The organisation to be dependent upon public opinion supporting its .activities, j Complaints and suggestions to receive immediate attention, and to be adjustI ed to the satisfaction of the public, or I substantial reasons given as to why such course is not possible. I The •Department to give freely in-' ; formation of public interest on railway matters, to acknowledge frankly any disabilities, and to advise what is being done to adjust them. J.l is suggested that two District Advisory Boards be established in each Island, to embrace the territories ini' dicated: — l" Auckland: All territory from Ohu-. | kune northwards, including Gisborne, j Wellington: All territory from Oha--1 kune southwards, and including Nelson jand Picton districts. jx Christchurch: All territory from f Glenavy and north thereof, including ' West Coast. ( Dunedin: All territory from south j of Glenavy. • The Boards should consist of repre-

sentatives of the various interests and public bodies, and representatives from Committees set up at other towns within the jurisdiction of the Board. Probably a satisfactory arrangement would be for the secretarial duties nf the Advisory Board to be in the hands of the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin respectively. It is also suggested that committees be appointed at other important centres to work in conjunction- with the District Advisory Boards on matters of common interest. On questions of purely local interest those committees should function in a similar manner to the Boards. They should be set up in a similar manner to the District Advisory Boards, and appoint representatives thereto: The Boards would decide as to the localities where such committees are • to be established. Advice of the date and place of all board and committee meetings, with a copy of the agenda paper, should be. sent to the Divisional Superintendent of Railways, 1 Auckland, Wellington, in order that arrangements may be ; made fpr the Department to be represented. The Railway Department's representative would, whenever possible, deal finally with matters introduced at the meetings,' but if this cannot bo done he would arrange for the representations io be conveyed to the proper quarter. ; j It is expected that boards will com- | municate with each other upon matters I of common interest. A pro forma . of suggested constituj lion and rules is attached hereto. It is suggested that a meeting of interested persons be called in each locality by the Chamber of Commerce or like- body, with a view to the cstab lishment of .the scheme. ' I should like representatives to attend from the Chambers of *Commerce, Farmers' Unions, Dairy Associations, Industrial Associations, Progress Leagues, timbermillers, coal-mine owners, and all other bodies interested in Railway affairs. It is considered that more detailed piatters such as mentioned below might be brought before the Boards when the (latter have commenced to function: — I Estimating and forecasting the probable demand for wagons for seasonal i or fluctuating traffic. " ! Regulating despatch of consignments i to stores and ships in order to avoid congestion and the holding up of !

wagons that should be available for traders. Speeding up loading and unloading and obtaining maximum loading of wagons. * Clearance of inward goods from Railway sheds. Arranging preference to specially urgent traffic. Despatch of goods to Railway sheds during the flay to avoid congestion at close of day. Organizing and regulating despatch of farm-produce, and farmers’ requisites. Co-ordinating the Department’s, efforts with the requirements of the user, and so eliminating misunderstandings. Generally, to assist transportation by co-operative .organisation tending towards the general welfare of both the Department and its clients. Let me emphasize, in conclusion, that we aim at not only a passive acquiescence on the part of tlib public in (undoings, ' but their active co-operation and assistance to make our services better and better; and -I am satisfied that it is only by taking our customers fully into our confidence and placing ail - the * cards upon the thblc that we can hope to arouse'in them tlie fullest measure of active co-operation. It cannot, be gainsaid that the Railways arc the greatest economic factor in the welfare of the Dominion, and that the prosperity of the Railways and of the community are interdependent. I am hopeful that the scheme set out herein will be taken up . with enthusiasm, and that the organisation will produce a spirit, of toleration and confidence tending , towards harmonious working and the ’ common welfare.”