THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1922, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS.

BETTER CONTROL URGED. BUSINESS MEN’S VIEWS. SYSTEM UNSATISFACTORY. By telegraph.— Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The Government’s railway policy was vigorously attacked to-day at a conference of delegates to the Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association of New Zealand. Mr. Mitchell (Dunedin) said he was sure every person in New Zealand resented the absolutely senseless way in which the New Zealand railways were being run. He proceeded to give instances of alleged bad management. He said that instead of making the railways more attractive the Government w r as doing just the reverse, while from a business point of view the action taken by the Government for so called economies would never hold water. Several constituencies were practically controlled by railway servants, which showed where the political influence came in. , He moved to the effect that the Government be asked to take steps .to sell the railways. Mr. A. Thompson (Auckland) said no business man could tolerate the manner in which the railways were being run to-day.

Mr. F. 11. King (Otago) said th< world’s experience had been that Stati owned railways had never been a sue cess, while those of private enterprisi were.

Mr. B. C. Groll (Wellington) did riot think the motion would go very far, but it might resuscitate a dormant spark and lead towards a better system. Mr. H. J. Clifton (Auckland) agreed that too much could not be said against the manner in which the railways were conducted, but to suggest their management should pass into the hands of a private combine was altogether against the ideas of a democratic country, and would come ill from such a body as the Commercial Travellers’ Association; such a motion should not go forth from the association.

Mr. D. W. McLean (Auckland) said tne whole matter resolved itself into the need for more commercial men in the Government. Personally, he thought the motion was a little too strong, and he would like to see the words regarding the selling deleted.

Mr. Mitchell agreed to amend the motion to read as follows: “In consequence of our members’ realisation that the railways are not being run in the best interests of the country, and their conviction that the only solution of the existing difficulties lies in proper commercial control, it is hereby resolved that the Government he asked to consider the advisability of selling the railways with a view to their being conducted under efficient management.” Later on Mr. Mitchell agreed to accept a modification of his motion. The alteration lay only in regard to the “selling” part of the motion, the last part of which was altered to read: “The Government be asked to consider the advisability of taking steps to bring the department under efficient commercial control free from political influence.” Tn that form the motion was carried. '