THE RAILWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1922, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS

HOW THE DEFICIT ARISES. QUESTION OF EXPLOITATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 17Among bhe remits discussed by thd Railway Officers’ Conference was one from Dunedin in favor of withdrawing all concessions to the public except.fret passes for school children, or crediting the department with the value of th< services rendered. Several delegated said the time had arrived when the gloves liad to be taken off, as they were sick and tired of reading ignorant and ill-advised comment originating from sources that had but a hazy idea, of railway transport. When salaries and wages were being attacked it waa their duty to show how the railways were being exploited by certain interests at the expense of the men in the service. Among the items criticised was the free carriage of agricultural lime up to 100 miles, which it was asserted caused a loss of thousands yearly. Th< trucks caught fire and were damaged oj destroyed. Often farmers, who got linw free, sent the produce thereof away bj motor. A number of other articles wen also carried free, and the freight on. beei for export had just been reduced. A number of people, including “distinguished visitors,” were conveyed for nothing or at .low rates. Two hundredweight of milk was carried 150 milefi foi 3s 3d, and the cans returned free. Otfcei services were mentioned which, the de* partment did for nothing. The remit was passed and the executive instructed to go fully into the matter in order to instruct the public as to some of the reasons why the railway* showed a deficit.

A SUGGESTED SCHEME. BRINGING IN BUSINESS MEN. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Progress League, a paper was read on railways and the need for improved methods of administration and it was resolved to bring the suggestions under the notice of the proper authorities. The scheme, which met with the hearty support of the delegates, suggested:— (1) That advisory boards be formed of railway officials and business men in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. (2) That some business men be elected by representative bodies to meet weekly with the railway authorities, and discuss any railway difficulties that may present themselves in regard tn local control, etc (3) The chairmen of these committees shall be business men, and they shall by virtue of their office represent their districts on an executive board to be held in Wellington each month with executive officers of the Railway Department and the Minister for Railways, to discuss railway business methods.

(4) By this means the chairman will be able to bring before this executive the local requirements, which will be supported by the writing of local district managers. (5) All members elected to these boards shall take a solemn declaration not to divulge or discuss matters brought up for discussion and not to give any information to people or papers unless by the sanction of the board.

(6) Members of the board will be deemed advisory boards only, and will have no votes as regards the policy of the railways unless asked to do so by the Minister foq Railways.