RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 56, 30 October 1912, Page 6

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

BILL PASSES. (Por Press Association.) Wellington, October 29. In the House to-night on the motion to commit the Government Railways Amendment Bill, Mr Herries said that there was no disguising the fact that there was dissatisfaction in connection with the management of the railways. What they intended to do in the mat ter of a general manager of the railways was to get the High Commissioner to call for applications and to arrange a personal interview. , They recognised that £3OOO would not got a first-class man, but should secure the services of a young man 35 or AO years of age, who hold a responsible position in some of the big companies in England, Ireland, Scotland, or Canada; It was recognised that the Traffic Department was the most important in the service. Dealing with the salaries of the railway service, he said that the increases provided for in the Second Division met with the approval of the A.S.R.S. He regretted that increases for the first division did not satisfy the Railway Officers’ Institute, but he could not" do more this year. He hoped to get 3-J per eent. interest out of the railways. That would allow of concesions which could not be allowed if 4 per cent, was looked for. The increases cost £6410 the first year; £12,750 the second year, £14,520 the third year, £14,805 the fourth year. The increases would come into force on April 1 next. As to the second division, on Ist April next the increases would amount to £83,000 per year. When the new management arrived next year, he . would be prepared to open the whole matter and sot right any anomalies. He concluded by saying that he thought the country might well bo proud of its railway service. Sir Joseph Ward attributed any dissatisfaction that existed to the present administration endeavouring ix get 4 per cent, out of the railway's. He disagreed with the suggestion tr import a general manager for the rail ways, pointing out that there won many who had spent years in the service and were naturally looking forward to the plums in the service. He proceeded to enumerate a number of officers to show that there was ample talent in the service.

Sir Joseph Ward, continuing, advocated a board of experts consisting of the heads of the maintenance and engineering departments to act in conjunction with the Minister. Mr Myers opposed this suggestion as inimical to co-ordination and cooperation. He maintained that not one of the gentlemen named by Sir Joseph was capable of being appointed general manager, as they lacked the necessary opportunities to qualify for such a difficult position, though they were worthy men for other important work. He believed it would be profitable to import an expert to report on the engineering, and thus save thousands of pounds. Mr Russell contended that the person whom the Minister had in his mind’s eye would never fulfil the expectations. He would move the following amendment: “And the House suggests that the Government should bring down an amendment to grant the concessions to the first division as from April Ist, 1913, which were recommended by the Railway Committee.” It would, he said, only take an expenditure of £12,000 to allay the seething discontent -among a large body of men, and that amount could be raised by increasing the freight on wool by 4d a bale. Mr Russell’s amendment was lost by 37 to 20. The question of whether a railway manager should be imported or not, together with the general provision of the measure, was discussed at length. Mr Buddo moved an amendment to the committal-of the Bill, “That the House disagrees with the proposal to pay £3OOO a year for a general manager of railways who is to be imported from outside New Zealand.” Mr Isitt suggested that an expert be secured from Home for a year, for, say, £SOOO. The amendment was lost by 38 to 25. The motion for committal was carried on the voices. The Bill was re- , ported from committee unamended, and the House rose at 1.55 a.m.