INSPECTION DE LUXE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 251, 22 October 1924, Page 4

INSPECTION DE LUXE.

One hears it said that if members of the City Council travelled more often by tram the Council would be more sympathetic towards the tram-using public. We are reminded of this by the fact that the English Commission which is inspecting the New Zealand railway system is travelling everywhere by special train. This train is faster than even expresses, and we presume it is as comfortable as a New Zealand train can be. We do not wish our visitors any harm, on the contrary, we expect something from them in the way of a valuable report, and we hope they will enjoy their stay. We cannot help thinking, however, that they would get a better insight into railway methods— at least from the point of view of the public—if they spent a few days on ordinary trains—especially those "mixed -, affairs that meander along all day took the rough with the smooth, mixed with the travelling public, and tried to see things with the eye of the intelligent train-user. A trip on the Kaipara line, for example, might be an education in itself. It is nearly always a drawback that inspections like these are made in conditions that are not normal. Within these limitations, however, the investigation is to bo thorough. The Government, we are glad to read, has made out a wide order of reference for the Commission. This reference seems to include everything, from rolling stock,, to decentralisation and office method, except perhaps, the question of political control, and we arc not sure whether this cannot be dealt with under the general terms of the order. It seems to us that the inquiry will be incomplete if these English experts are not permitted to express an opinion on the relative merits of Ministerial control on the one hand, and on the other, control by Commissioners or some other non-political body. Whatever new method of control was adopted Parliament would have to be responsible ultimately, but it is a question whether political considerations do not enter too much into policy and management under the present system. The "Bulletin," we observe, attaches little value to the report of these same Commissioners on the Xew South Wales railways. Tt is not that the "Bulletin" finds the report worthless, but that it despairs of the politicians. "The removal of the lines from political control is also a recommendation; one always looks for it in a case of this sort, and never expects it to lead to much. It is quite simple for directors or commissioners to control the lines; but someone must control the directors, else they might sell the whole show and retire on the proceeds." The "Bulletin" estimates that the State makes 2000 miles of railway pay, in overcharges, for 3500 mile's of insolvent lines, and that the capital locked up in apparently hopeless lines is £28,000.000. Our own railway problems, therefore, resemble those that the Commissioners have investigated in Australia, and this experience should be valuable to them in New Zealand. Also we have politicians, and on them and the voters who support them, the ultimate responsibility rests.