THE RAILWAYS

Southland Times, Issue 21099, 3 June 1930, Page 7

THE RAILWAYS

WORKING COSTS. PROPOSED INQUIRY. VIEWS OF A.S.R.S. (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, June 2. At a large and representative meeting of the Otago branch of Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the proposal of the Prime Minister to set up a commission to inquire into the working of railways was freely discussed. This is a vital matter to the members of the society, and the following resolution was carried unanimously: “This branch of the A.S.R.S. considers that before any adjustments are made, the following question should be inquired into. —1, to what extent has the policy of the previous successive Governments, i.e., using railways as adjuncts to land settlement and development and assistance to industry, been wholly or partially responsible for the present railway debt of £57,000,000 ?; 2, To what extent have railway finances been affected by such policy, and what is the measure of increased revenue through the various channels of taxation by reason of such assistance'being given?; 3, Whether the country as a whole should not now carry its just share of this debt instead of its being wholly on the working railways account, thereby prejudicing the standard of living of those employed in the industry; 4, As railways have been compelled to pay for the capital cost of all railway lines, the motor interests should be called upon to pay their share of the capital cost of roads instead of being able to use highways paid for almost wholly out of public funds in open competition with, and to the detriment of the peoples own railway system.’’