THE RAILWAYS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 29 November 1912, Page 6

THE RAILWAYS.

(To tho Editor. 11

Sir, —I noticed in your columns of to-day's issue that in tlio course of a discussion at a meeting of the Christehureh Chamber of Commerce, some- of the members commended the action, of (lie Minister of Railways for Lis intention to engage a General Manager outside of the Dominion, «nd also that the «akl Chamber of Commerce have; kindly resolved to assist the new- Manager to work his Department. Very nice, indeed; but 1 should like to know how the various business men of this country would .take it if. (luring his leisure, the Manager for Railways suggested that lie would'take a hand in the management of their own business. But, Sir, this is not the. object of my letter. Is there any need to go outside at all for a General Manager? And, ,if so. what encouragement is there for the present members of the Railway Department, who have devoted themselves to the sen-ice of the country, and when at last the highest position is within reach, for the powers •that be to practically ignore their claim, and Ko elsewhere, for a man to filj that position. Surely if New Zealanders have had the energy and brains to build up such a splendid Department as wo at the present moment possess, ■-it is only reasonable to assume we. still have men left amongst us, who at least should be given the opportunity of proving their capabilities in the managing of the Department which they have helped to build up. Much has been said about getting a young man of do years of age out from Home to fill j the responsible position of General Manager. (Not that T doubt a young {man's capabilities being, close on that age myself.) Surely this is preposterous. Anybody who knows any- | thing at all about railway matters will j ' admit that in England men of that

age do not get the opportunities of a training which would enable thorn to assume the responsibility of controlling our railway system, and do justice to the position. And with regard to the men who are filling the big railway positions at Home, ft is not in the least likely that they are coming out here for £3OOO, or even £SOOO, a year. Our legislators would have, been well advised had they looked into Australia's experience with: the imported article before deciding oii taking such a step themselves; and it cannot be denied that the unhoped for event of a.u imported man being installed, it will at least, be a New Zealander -who will be called viopn or expected to initiate, him into his new duties, and by the time he (the new man) has got into his own harness, ho will no doubt be alive to the fact that New Zealand and not English methods must prevail. We people of this Dominion must not, forget the fact that the English railways ore run to pay dividends, and that our own railways are rim only to pay interest on the money invested in them, and having done so and.more, surely our own officers are entitled to some recognition. It is only a littlo while ago that an ex-Minister of Railways

was stumping the country practically saying that he. had £IOO,OOO to give i away which the. railways had earned, [despite the fact that wo have recentIly completed an enormous building 'programme, such .as constructing new 'railway lines, building new rolling | stock, and engines. The whole of the I main lines have been put down with, new and 'heavier rails; Westinghouso i brakes havo been fitted to the whole ' of the rolling stock, and our system 1 of signalling and interlocking is second to none. This, mid mor.e, has all been done within the last few years, and done by our own officers, too. If there has been any fault in the management in the past, we must not forget the fact that politics have played alogether too large a part in, railway affairs; which has no doubt largely hampered the management; and I am sure that most people will agree that the political element should not Ibo tolerate! for one moment if the [railways are to bo run jis a business concern. As long as the railways ere looked upon as a political ; hunt~ j ing ground, then just so long will | there be trouble for all. concerned, jeven though wo had twenty general I managers from Home. "Now Sir, T | maintain that there is -it least one Iman at present in the. Railway Department who is entitled at least to an opportunity of proving his capabilities as General Manager, and who has successfully filled every other position of importance, and let- it bo said to his credit' that he is also a strong man. If he is given the on-, portimity of filling the vacancy, railway men will have the satisfaction of knowing that for loyal and faithful «ervico, the Government can be lojnl in return, nnd it will be an. established fact that in Zealand, *nd it has been, said in high, quarters —a man can rise from the Imtfom to the top of the tree.—l nm. ete.. NEW ZEALAXDET}. Masterton, November 27, 1012.