Can Mr. Sterling Earn His Salary?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 466, 22 September 1928, Page 13

Can Mr. Sterling Earn His Salary?

“GIVING US ADVICE” COMMENTS IN THE HOUSE (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Friday. “I have been wondering what we expect the new general manager to do to earn his salary. Up to now he Has been giving us advice. He has told us that the railways are not expected to pay, that they are simply to yield service. We knew that before.” Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) embellished his contribution to the railways discussion this afternoon with a dissertation on salaries of railway managers, past and present, and made the statement quoted above. Mr. Savage also remarked: “It has been said that whenever we are dissatisfied with results we always raise the salary of some one in a high place. The Government appointed a railway board, which gave the appearance of democracy, but in due time we find that the board is not giving satisfaction, so we appoint another general manager at another increase in salary. We have had it every way but the right way, and we still find motor transport is getting away with the business.” Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch ooutn) mentioned a case in which a railway servant had been uncivil to a passenger. 1-Ie said there should be nothing on wheels that could compete with the railways if the railways were properly handled.

Mr. W. A. Veitch, on the contrary, thought that the Minister was struggling too hard to compete with motor traffic, and was trying to kill it when it could not be killed. He believed the Government had failed to follow a sound policy in maintaining its tracks, which could not be expected to last more than 30 years.

The Prime Minister: You are not talking sense. Mr. Veitcli: If you were an accountant you would realise that I am. Mr. Coates offered to thrash the matter out with Mr. Veitch before any competent accountant or engineer. Sir John Luke expressed every confidence in the ability and prospects of the new general manager. Mr. D. G. S. Sullivan (Avon) introduced the question of suggestions or inventions by railway servants, and said it had been reported that the department made a habit of adopting these without giving the employees the credit for them.

The Prime Minister said there was no doubt that the staff was doing its best to give service.