PROPOSALS ADOPTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 306, 26 December 1924, Page 8

PROPOSALS ADOPTED.

AFTER CABINET DISCUSSION, j SOME IN OPERATION. In releasing the report of the Rail- ! ways Commission for publication, the ' Minister of Railways, stated that ■ he had submitted proposals to Cabinet dealing with the whole | of the recommendations and sugges- | tious made by the commissioners. Speak- j ing generally, Cabinet had agreed to • adopt the proposals, and the steps taken j in connection with some of the more j important had recently been announced. ■ A staff of qualified railway accoun- j tants has been engaged for some weeks, i he eaid, in formulating full reports, so ■ that the change-over to the new system. ; of finance and accounting may be brought into operation at the com- j mencement of the next financial year. - I "With regard to the filling of the position of chief mechanical engineer," | he added, "steps have already been j taken in the manner suggested by the j commission, and applications are at pre- i sent being invited in New Zealand and ' abroad from men with the necessary qualifications." "The recommendations dealing with the appointment of a secretary, cashier, and ah operating and equipment assist- i ant, and the appointment of general superintendents in each island, ar%" added the Minister, "in entire accord with my aims at decentralisation, and have been agreed to, but some adjustment in the organisation chart included in the commission's report will be necessary." Improved Services. "The question of reducing 'mixed' trains to a minimum," said the Minister, "has received a considerable amount of attention for some time, and it has been recognised that the separation of goods and passenger services should go a long way in popularising our railways. "A scheme for the collection and delivery of goods has been formulated by the departmental officers, and will be considered by the board and myself as early as possible." On the important question of excursion fares, the Minister said it was intended to review the matter early in the new year, and decide as to what further reductions can be made for the Easter holidays. Concerning the recommendations of the commission that a complete revision of time-tables is essential, the Minister said that these, together with the centralised control of train movement and distribution of wagon stock in each island, were fully concurred in, and to give effect to them the Government had secured the services of Mr. S. E, Pay, who was attached to the commission as a secretary, and Who has very wide experience in the operation side of rail' way work in other parts of the world. Mr. Fay would commence his duties early in April next. The recommendations in Connection with the mechanical department were concurred in, and would be considered ih conjunction with the report of an expert who was engaged by the Department some two months ago. Definite arrangements had been made to establish a modern" System of compiling essential statistics. This system would be inaugurated by Mr. A. Warren King, who, prior to being attached to the recent commission, held the position of statistical assistant to the general Manager of one of the most important British railway companies. Mr. King had 'been engaged temporarily for this purpose. The Minister also noted that a, scheme of staff training would •be promoted, and that officers from various branches would be at an early date to go abroad for training. 900 EMPLOYEES COULD "GO." TOO MANY REPAIR SHOPS. ENGINE MILEAGE POOR. The suggestion that railway locomotives should be repaired at only two shops in the North Island, and that 000 employees could be dispensed with, representing a saving of about £200,0001 per annum is made by the Railway Commissioners. The Commissioners declare that, considering the mileage run by the locomotives, it is clearly indicated that the engines are in the shops too frequently. Twice as much mileage Should be done before they enter the shops. It would appear that the shops at Petonc and Addington could deal v/ith the necessary repairs ' in the two Islands, and, assuming this' to be so, it would be possible to dispense with the services of some 000 men, representing a saving of about £200,000 per annum. Thus a great saving is possible in the locomotive workshops in New Zealand, even without expenditure on new machinery and reorganisation of the existing shops, but if such were carried out a further saving should be effected. It is obvious that the arrangement outlined would have to take place by degrees to avoid hardship to those displaced. In our opinion, reorganisation of the existing methods should be put in force at an early date, and modern machinery procured. It is generally held that machinery in locomotive workshops possesses a utility life of twenty years. On this basis £162,607 should have been expended on renewals during the period 1915 to 1924, but only £1106 was spent, leaving a balance of £161,501 which should have been set aside in a renewals fund. TRAIN-FERRY ADVOCATED. WELLINGTON TO PICTON. COST ABOUT HALF A MILLION. A train-ferry service between Wellington and Picton, giving the advantage of throughout rail transit between the two Islands is advocated by the Railway Commission. The Commissioners state that, some day, no doubt, this form of communication will be established. The sooner it is done, looked at from a railway administration point of view only, the earlier will be the time when it will be possible to operate the system as a whole as economically and efficiently as in countries where lines are not disjointed. The cost of landing stations and ferryboats capable of conveying upwards of fifty ordinary goods vehicles need not entail very great expenditure in proportion to the advantages foreshadowed and the prospects of revenue to be obtained Probably £500,000 would be found sufficient. In connection with t*c scheme the Unking up of the line between W«xd and