THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1917, Page 8

THE RAILWAYS.

CURTAILMENT OF PASSENGER SERVICE. Christchurch, March Ifi. , Interviewed to-day, Mr ITilev (General Manager of the Railways) said that he could not yet fully explain the scheme for the curtailment of the railway services, which he had recently drawn up because it was still before the Minister, and had to lie dealt with by Cabinet but he couM say that some fairly drastic proposals were being made, which were calculated to have a distinct effect upon the passenger traffic if the scheme was adopted. He could not say how many men it would release for military service. If curtailment was decided on it- was no good doing things by halves, as the goods service must be kept up. The pruning must-necessarily ISa at the expense of the passenger traffic. "Tt is possible," lie said, "that the curtailment of the passenger trains will have to be followed by a rise in fares.'' He did not think the few race trains now run could be held accountable for the keeping an unnecessarily large staff, for in practically all eases these trains were worked, as "extra" by a staff which was only large enough to cope with the ordinary work. Mr Hiley added that he thought the. criticism of the Department for appealing for its employees at the Military Appeal Boards was not a little unfair, and probably arose through want of knowledge of the facts,