RAILWAY ADVISORY BOARDS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 72, 18 December 1926, Page 12

RAILWAY ADVISORY BOARDS

financial assistance QUESTION

NO GRANTS PROBABLE Provision by the Railway Department of financial assistance to the recently inaugurated Railway Advisory Boards was not contemplated by the Prime Minister (Right Hou. J. G. Coates) when he formulated the scheme, which aims at furnishing a common meeting ground between the users of the railways and the Department for the better understanding of railway problems. Mr. Coates was understood to hold the view that since firmly established bodies, such as of commerce, were likely to be the prime movers in the matter of organisation, the costs in that direction would be negligible, and that there would be no occasion for the State to supply funds on that score. Another consideration—and this was indicated in the circular outlining the proposed constitution of the boards—was that the users of the national transport system would distinctly benefit bv the establishment of the scheme. Otic of the features of the existence of the advisory boards is the opportunity provided of co-ordinating complaints and suggested improvements. With the Dominion divided into four districts these can be forwarded to the central depot in the district concerned; and the wide areas each board is asked to cover give a clear official hint that, as far as representation of provincial interests is concerned, it should be done bv memorandum, as, against personal attendance of delegates. If representatives were to attend the board from distant areas in the district, the question of free railway passes would probablv arise, and from what can be ascertained there is no likelihood of that concession being extended to delegates. At a meeting this week in connection with the formation of a board for the railway district north of Ohakune it was decided to take steps to raise necessary funds by means of a levy, provided that the Railway Department co-operated by granting a pound for pound subsidy. While the Railway Board, when approached yesterday, was not prepared to comment on the resolution, there is reason to believe that the possibility of the subsidy proposed bv the Northern Advisory Board being granted is extremely remote.