RAILWAY SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18347, 2 April 1925, Page 8

RAILWAY SERVICE.

THE REORGANISATION SCHEME. In reply to enquiries made by Mr L. Mcllvride, M.P., Napier, with regard to the reorganisation of the railway service so far as that will specially affect railway workshops, the Minister of Railways, Hon. J. G. Coates, stated that the scheme before the Government and the Department was a very extensive one, necessitating the remodelling of the big shops, and until ihat was accomplished it was very difficult to say what would be the position in the smaller centres. "Of course," continued the Minister, "this remodelling process will not be completed for a month, or even a year, and there is, therefore, no .fear of anything happening to the shops here in the immediate future." In answer to a question, "Will you eventually close down the workshops at Napier?" the Minister said: "No, 1 lion't think they will be closed down altogether/ There will always be a running repair shop in this district." "Does that mean there will be a reduction in the staff?" w:-s then asked, to which the Minister replied: "I can't say. Everything is tabulated, and until due consideration is given to the different phases of the scheme no <yie knows exactly what will h.ippen. Efficiency ami service, with economy, arc wanted. If, for instance, a car or an engine can be completed in Pet-one in twenty clays, and the same jcb would take thirty days in Napier, then the .job will be railed during the night, when the line ia clear, and done in Pctone. The remodelling of the shops, tlie reorganisation of the staff, the installation of up-to-date machinery are going to make a wondsrful difference in all directions, and the Department, I assure you, is net losing sight of the position of the men, with, their homes in the different districts, or what extensive transfers would' mean to the Department in their deliberations." "There is no fear, then, of anything happening this year?" was then asked, to which the Minister replied "No."