RAILWAY SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 222, 19 September 1930, Page 8

RAILWAY SERVICE.

FAITH IN THE FUTURE.

MINISTERIAL REVIEW.

NEED OP TRANSPORT; LEGISLATION.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary 'Reporter.) ' WELLINGTON, Thursday.

Paith in the future of the Railway Department was expressed" by the. Hon. W. A. Veitcli, Minister of Railways, in the House to-day during the debate' on the Railways Statement. Holding that the 'present position' was serious, 'necessitating a.' drastic and .comprehensive remedy, the Minister said thai unless the finances were strengthened and unnecessary competition eliminated the Department would be faced not with the question of discharging a few • hundred "men, but • the question of reducing the 'permanent staff. ■ , ' ' • . '' i

The Minister said.the gross earnings of the Department during last year were £8,250,000, which .showed a decrease over the previous five years of £90,000. As against that there was an increase of nearly £900,000 in .ithe working expenses of the Department. At first'sight those figures gave one the impression that there; had. been carelessness in expenditure, but the more he analysed the problem the more he realised that,. in face: of the difficulties confronting the Department—the loss •in revenue ■it was constantly hoped to overtake by providing better 'and more extensive services-r----there was a great deal tto be said in justification of . the increase. Last year it was necessary to expend £250,000 in overtaking arrears in repairs. On the whole there "was no reason to condemn the railway administration up to the present point. ;

Economies Effected. Mr. Veitch said that no major changes of policy were being ' made until the report of the Royal Commission came to hand. When, that report'was received the whole policy of the Department would.be investigated, with' a view to meeting the new situation. At the sanie time several economies had'been,effected. For instance, there had been-an elimination of train mileage of 870,000 train miles per annum. Experience showed that; it would be folly to continue such niethodsj spending large sums of .money, chasing traffic, whiclu it . was-impossible to catch. , .' '', ' <

Referring to tlie closing of branch lines, .the. Minister said thatjin. tins connection lie -had had his most satisfactory and pleasant experience. To-day they: were in the happy position of; being able to keep a number of the lines going owing to the response which had made by the residents of the localities affected. . Vigilant committees, had been .set' up in the -various districts, and;as a ;result the' Department* was getting 3 lot" of business which it had previously 'lost. . ' ; ' ' '

. Dismissals of Staff. • The, Minister remarked that, liQ come in .for criticism by reason: of toe necessity, of dispensing with.the services of. a .considerable number of men. That ■Was the one arid- only' painful duty that had devolved on him since he.;to? K' charge of the Railway Department. A® was . one-of those who- believed -that-'tie Railway service had a great future, -and still - had a big part to play in development of the country. • Unl« s tliey could strengthen the finances of the Department, unless they could pass sue" transport legislation as would cnaole them to eliminate'waste and unnecessary competition, and unless they could 'eftec. measures of economy and carry, ou improvements in the Department,-.tfl time would come when it would not W a question of dispensing with the services of a few hundred men, hut » question of decreasing the number 0 permanent men employed in the Depar - ment. It was his responsibility'aud duty to take a firm hold of the positionHe was not going to live in a "coward»

castle." "We need have no fear .as*-io4S future' of .the Department," said #• Veitch. , "At present the Department 15 suffering along with everybody else a 3 a result of : depression, but it has .to'; 6 ®": remembered that the depression is permanent.and. that the good.times tfj 1 come again. It will be necessary;; 0 .carry out further drastic economies* 111 the future—" . Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Ma'aukau) • What do you mean by economies, in'F c future? Do you mean more men will;" 6 discharged? ; \ \ The Minister: No one'knows what® 8 future has in'store. A slight increa? e in production from the land will gj 1 ® the' Department a great deal more bu»'\ ness, .as, will development of latad settle ment', hydro-electricity, and tourist tra fic.- There is ; no doubt that the pqsitio" is'.rery serious indeed, and calls, for drastic and comprehensive remedy, we must- realise: thafc the future is M l