RAILWAYS AMENDMENT BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 139, 30 October 1912, Page 8

RAILWAYS AMENDMENT BILL.

THE GENERAL MANGEKSHIP.

DISCUSSION JN THE llOUb.l'

THE BILL PASSES UNALTERED.

By Telegraph—Press Association. W'ellingLun, Last Night. In the House to-nighl on the motion to commit the Government Railways Amendment Bill, Mr. 'Merries said thai there was no disguising the fact that there was dissatiiilactiou in connection with the management of the railways. Wihat they intended to do in the matter 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 get a first-class man, but should secure the services of a young man, 35 or 40 years ol age, who hold a I responsible position in some of the big I 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 div-

ision did not satisfy the Railway OlTi.i-s' Institute, but he could not do more this year. He hoped to get 3% per cent, interest out of the railways. That would allow of concessions which could not be allowed if 4 per cent was looked for. The increases for the first division would 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 set right any anomalies. He concluded by saying that he thought the country might well be proud of its railway service. Sir Joseph Ward attributed any dis-

satisfaction that existed to the present administration endeavouring to get 4 per- cent, out of the railways. He disagreed with the suggestion to import a general manager for the railways, pointing out that there were many who had spent years in the service ancl 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 co-opera-tion. He maintained that not one of the gentlemen named by Sir Joseph was capable of being appointed general manager, ] as they lacked the necessary opportuni-1 ties to qualify for such a difficult posi-1 ; tion, though they were worthy men for other important work. He believed it I 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 1, 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 hy 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 ipay £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, sav, £3OOO.

The amendment was lost by 38 to 2a. The motion for committal was carried on the voices. The Bill was reported from committee unamended, and the House rose at 1.55 a.m.