The Press WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1952. Railway Management

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26868, 22 October 1952, Page 8

The Press WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1952. Railway Management

'The defects in the form of commission control proposed for the railways should not be allowed to obscure the general soundness of the principle in the Government Railways Amendment Bill. Even some of the Opposition speakers in the debate on the'investigating commission’s report earlier this session admitted that the scope of the business made it almost impossible for a general manager under the direction of a Minister to administer it ;effectively; and there are good reasons for thinking that a commission with a majority of experienced railj waymen and a leavening of men of I proved capacity in other fields I should make for greater efficiency. (Experience this opinion. ' The Railways Board, which operated ! from 1931 to 1936, had a good record. (The railways have never been bet- ; ter administered than they were in that period. Under the old system lof political control railway finances (had drifted into a state of chaos. The board showed vigour and resource; and, before the members received their “ running shoes ”, they had put the affairs of the department on a businesslike footing. Some of the defects in the bill now before Parliament are that the term of the commissioners’ appointment (three years) is too short; that unless there are extraordinary vacancies all five members will retire at the same time; and that a greater measure of political control than seems desirable is to be retained by the Government. It should, however, be noted that in the term of appointment and in the degree of political control, the commission (according to the Press Association summary) will be better off than the board was under its legislation. In these directions .much depends on the policy of the Government. If it appoints good men, reappoints them if they give good service, and gives them reasonable freedom of operation, commission control will

be successful. The attitude of the i Government suggests that this is its t intention. Lack of continuity of “ policy through frequent changes of general managers has been, peri haps, the greatest handicap of the 1 railways in recent years. It would . be unfortunate if the advantages in this respect offered by a commission system Of control were not used by the Government. If the seven-year term for members recommended by the investigating commission ap- ■ pears too long to the Government, it should at least consider amend--1 ing the bill to provide that one of ' the original members should be appointed for five years, two for four years, and two for three years, with ; subsequent terms of four years in : each case. This would ensure continuity of management. Apparently the two outside members of the commission are to hold cnly part-time appointments, while the three chosen from the service are to give their full time to the job, one possibly in the north of the North Island, one in the south of the North Island, and one in the South Island. The provision that the railway men should give up their present positions is essential, or some awkward questions of seniority might arise. Whether it is wise to provide that the employee

of a service organisation (or trade union) should be eligible- for membership of the commission is more questionable. On balance, it may be justified if it ensures a greater feeling of responsibility in the service generally, which is likely. It is unfortunate that the custopiary (but surely avoidable) difficulties over drafting and printing bills should have delayed this measure until a week before the time when members have decided to end the session. The House has, it is true, already debated the principle of the bill on the report of the Royal Commission, and has had the week-end to think over the legislation. On the other hand, printed copies of the bill have not yet been

distributed, and the only information generally available is in newspaper summaries. If the Opposition feels that not enough time is available for a proper study of the bill by all who are interested, then it should attempt to delay the bill’s passage, which it probably could do. However, all members seem to want ; the session over before the holiday i week-end; and when members of 1 Parliament want to go home they i usually deal quickly with legislation, i It is to be hoped that they are not ; in too much of a hurry this year to s examine the details of this important i bill. ]