THE RAILWAYS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 101, 10 February 1936, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS.

GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CONTROL EARLY CHANGE IN SYSTEM. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 9. The early resumption by the Government of full control of the Railways Department was announced by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) last night at a complimentary gathering in his honour held by the Addington workshops employees. “There happens to he in existence a body known as the Railways Board which, under the present law, is in full control of the railways,” said Mr Sullivan. “At the recent general election it was announced from hundreds of platforms tliat the policy of the Labour Party was government by the Party itself. It is the Labour policy to take full control of all the affairs of State. Since assuming office we have seen no reasons for changing our opinion. I am perfectly satisfied it is in the best interests of the people of the Dominion and the Government should take full responsibility for its policy without sheltering behind allegedly independent hoards.” “In making this declaration I wish it to bo clearly understood that not the slightest reflection is intended against any member of the Railways Board. It is the system which is at fault. No truly Democratic Government could possibly function as it should in conducting the affairs of the railways if the Government on the one hand and the management on the other were to attempt to continue their work subject to a mandated authority such as that with which the Railways Board is invested.” *

Mr Sullivan said the Labour policy would soon be put into effect in this respect. He also promised that in its consideration of transport problems, the Government would endeavour to secure cc-ordination of the various methods of transport. It was his opinion that the railways would remain for a long time the backbone of our transport system. 5