COMMISSION ON RAILWAYS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26723, 6 May 1952, Page 8

COMMISSION ON RAILWAYS

WELLINGTON SESSION BEGUN EVIDENCE BY FEDERATED FARMERS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 5. The Royal Commission on Railways began its Wellington sitting this afternoon. It expects to hear about 40 witnesses before adjourning on Thursday. The commission has already held sittings at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. After the Wellington sitting the commission will next week go to Nelson for informal discussions on railway problems there. Later in the month it will return to Wellington for its final sitting. The commission comprises Sir John Allum (chairman), Mr C. V. Smith, and Mr W. O. Gibb. To-day it heard submissions from New Zealand Federated Farmers, the Wellington Carriers’ Association, the Dominion Settlement and Population Association, the Fruit Distributors' Association, and the publicity and advertising and refreshment branches of the Railways Department. Railways and other amenities hitherto regarded as part of the people's normal life would come into the category of luxuries if the present policies of inflation, over-industrialisation, and the 40-hour week were allowed to be continued, said the secretary of Federated Farmers (Mr A. P. O’Shea) to the commission. Mr O'Shea said that the basic causes of the railways difficulties were New Zealand’s inflationary conditions, the policy of industrialisation, and the effects of the 40-hour five-day weekjThe policy of inflation had led to “over full” employment, which had a most serious effect on the railways. Workers naturally selected the most advantageous jobs in both pay and conditions. with the result that the less attractive jobs in which the clock had to be worked round had to go short of men.

Under the policy of industrialisation, supported by a rigid import control system, the ventures so created were soon able to outbid for labour' older established and essential industries and organisations such as the railways. “Should Work the Clock Round”

Mr O'Shea said that with the 40hour five-day week it was difficult to get people to work on a seven-day-week job requiring shift work, as was necessary with the railways. To operate profitably the railways should work the clock round. Yet much capital equipment was allowed to be idle for considerable periods. This was the fault of the users of the railways and not of the railways. National policy prevented full operation of the facilities which, fully used, would be economical.

Mr O'Shea referred to the policy of carriers and warehousemen in working a short week, which meant that the facilities of the railways were not fully used. There was a tendency toward using railway waggons and sheds as warehouses. “A reorientation of policy could change the whole picture in regard to railways,” Mr-O’Shea said. “For example, a tighter money policy would certainly make more labour available, and the easing of penal provisions in awards would do the same. From a national point of view it might be possible for an equallv efficient transport service to be given by closing some branch lines and allowing the work to be done by lorries, or in the case of suburban passenger services,, by buses.”

Mr O’Shea saia, however. that Federated Farmers would support such a move only in certain conditions. “The cartage business thus handed over by the railways should not become subject to the Socialist vested interest idea whereby a monopoly is created for a particularly favoured person,” he said. His organisation recommended that the commission indicate the vital necessity for New Zealand to regard shut work as a national part of its life, thus correcting the difficulties of the railways and other industries.

More Migran L Urged A more substantial immigration policy to help the Railways Department to overcome its staffing shortages was urged by the Dominion Settlement and Population Association.

"My association contends that 90 per cent, of all the difficulties the railways are suffering from is due to the lack of population in this Dominion." said the president of the association (Mr A- Leigh Hunt). “The competition for staffs which is prevailing not only among the ordinary business firms but actually between State departments and public bodies constitutes a demoralising and farcical state of affairs.” Mr Hunt said that his association advocated a substantial, organised, and long-range immigration plan and not “a petty year-to-year influx.” which could never overtake the demand for more people. With the “will to do,” New Zealand could readily overcome the difficulties of the shipping and housing shortages which, it had been pleaded, had prevented a more intensive immigration policy.