The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1919. RAILWAY COMMISSION'S REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1919. RAILWAY COMMISSION'S REPORT.

The report of the Commission set up to inquire into the causes of the recent railway cut is quite what might have been expected from the trend of the evidence given to the Commission. There was a remarkable unanimity among the railway officers who testified as to the conditions of the rolling stock, nor is it likely that it would have been otherwise, for the setting up of the Commission was equivalent to placing the responsible officials on their trial, and they certainly appear to have made out a good case. The curtailment of the train services is, therefore, attributed to shortage of men owing to enlistment and to shortage of coal, inasmuch as there has been an increase in the output of wagons, carriages and engines, it would seem that the shortage of men must have mainly arisen in the traffic department, and it is by no means clear whether the shortage wfis due to war enlistments or to resignations from the service, amounting to a total of no less than 1263 in the last two years, mainly due to grievances that have been pfcnntted to take root instead of in:irv s eliminated. Ministers cannot bq fairly blamed for this undesirable canker, for the existence of which the General Manager must /be held mainly responsible, as /t is his business to see that thfe men receive a square deal, equivalent by comparison to that mepd out to the first division. The. gravamen of the report centres on the coal shortage, and, in view iof the evidence, the Commission </,ould arrive at no other conclusion than that the General Manager c-.id not show proper foresight. ■ ifor the full time-table, about 26(/,000 tons of bituminous coal from the West Coast and Australia, and about 66,000 tons of brOv»'n coal were required, and somewhat less for the reduced time-table. >. October, 1913, the stock was t-ns, but, owing to difficulties in obtaining coal, the stock dwindled, until by July, 1919, it only amounted to 9560 tons, with the result that the railway cut was instituted. A great deal of evidence was given relative to the rationing of coal by the Minister of Munitions, with a view to east the blame for the shortage on his shoulders. It is clear, however, that the Minister did not regulate the purchase of coal or the rate of freights, and it is also, evident that friction arose between the officer responsible for the railway coal stock and the Munitions Department. Supplies for the Navy and transports naturally had the first claim, the railWays being next in importance, and it is satisfactory to find that the Commission adequately recognised the difficulties of the Munitions Department, and paid a tribute to the most careful and painstaking attention given by the Department to the work of coal rationing. It is on record from the evidence given—which was uncontroverted—that the Eailway Department on several occasions deliberately refused offers of coal, in spite of the fact that maintenance of the railway service was in jeopardy, the refusals being sometimes on the ground of unsuitability, and at others because it would I not pay the higher freight charges necessary to get the additional coal. Such tactics, in view of the vital importance of the service, seem almost incredible, and indicate that there is grave cause for reform in the coaling department of the railways. This is emphasised by the evidence of the responsible officer in charge of this department, who practically stated that he was subject to no control, and acted as he alone thought fit. This does not relieve the General Manager of the responsibility. for i a system that no business firm would tolerate for a moment. Although the officials endeavour to fasten the blame on the Munitions Department, yet at the same time it was admitted that the Railway Department bought what coal it pleased .without consulting the

Munitions Department, merely accounting to the latter for what coal was used so as to complate the tally. It is, therefore, plain that the Munitions Department, or the Coal Trade Committee, are in no way to blame, while the course of action pursued by the Railways Department cannot justly escape censure. By the elucidation of the true facts bcariug on the railway cut, the Commission has been of much service to the country. It is certainly disconcerting to find that such a vitally essential service as the railways, on which the people of all classes, the industries, and almost every activity of the State depends, have been at the mercy of an uncontrolled officer of the Railways Department. This calls for immediate remedy. Coal is the mainspring of the railway service, and its supply demands the constant personal supervision of the General Manager. Admittedly there was a shortage, but it would seem that if, instead of taking umbrage at the Munitions Department, special efforts had been made to obtain all.fuel that was obtainable, no matter at what price or freight charges, the cut might possibly have been avoided. The past cannot be altered, but there should be a drastic reform in the future, and the General Manager cannot act too promptly or effectively in this direction.