The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1914.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 15, 4 September 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1914.

OUR RAILWAYS. The report on the railways of New Zealand, presented to the Government by Mr E. 11. Hiley, the newlyappointed General .Manager, was laid bn t«Vtablk : of'liie-'Mouse last/<nigbt.Mr Hiley deals exhaustively with many points, and amongst other things states that the conclusion he has arrived at, alter reviewing the whole position, is that the system has outgrown the present organisation. The rapid growth of the system and the of business'had rendered the machinery for traffic control 1 unequal to the demands put upon it by existing circumstances. The stall requires to bo strengthened, and the staff arrangements remodelled, particularly in the traffic branches. The Department is short of engine-power and rollingstock for dealing promptly with business now offering. Terminal accommodation is inadequate, and a forward policy is necessary in regard, to the duplication of congested suburban lines, re-grading main lines and bridgestrengthening, and additional signalling equipment, if the traffic is to be fostered and handled economically. safely, and expeditiously. Amongst the recommendations made are the appointment of an assistant-general manager, assistant traffic managers, and assistant district traffic managers in Auckland, Wellington, Christ-church, and Dunedin; the appointment of a commercial agent to develop new revenue-producing business is strongly urged. These, recommendations are fairly sweeping, but many people roi years past have realised that the railways are not what they ought to be, and though manned by a generally line staff, even good work could not obtain '>

really good results. In the report the promised new time-table proposes to shorten the journey between Auckland and Wellington by one hour and twen-ty-five minutes, between Wellington and Napier sixty minutes: between Wellington and New Plymouth by tliirty minutes. The South Island time-table is practically unaltered. So far as Taranaki is concerned the gain ' is very slight indeed. Mr Hiley makes proposals tor new rolling stock, level crossing alarms, electric light in trains, new stations at Palmerstou North, I Hastings and Timaru, grade easements | at Palmerstou and Marton, and the j

duplication of the Lyttelton tunnel. The matters suggested will involve an expenditure totalling £3,250,000, which it is proposed to spread over a period of five years. A personal note at the (•(inclusion of Mr Hiley's report is important. He says: "It is not my wish that any portion of this report he misinterpreted into rlirecfc or indirect criticism of the administration of my predecessors. Nothing is farther from my desire and intention. In fact, lam glad to have this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the good work of those who have preceded mo in building tip so well the present railway system of New Zealand. During my inspection of the railways, I have found ample evidence of tho great care, forethought, and ingenuity that ' h.as been expended in the past in ' evolving such a.'complete system ©f j

communication in a comparatively un-

developed and sparsely populated country. There are many instances whore it is evident that my predecessor and his assistants in various departments were anxious to adopt improvements, fully realizing their value, but were precluded from doing so owing to trw fact that the funds available were more urgently required for immediate necessities." The House is to have an opportunity of discussing the whole matter.