TRANSPORT INCUBUS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 54, 27 November 1930, Page 12

TRANSPORT INCUBUS

Losses on Railways POLITICAL CONTROL Independent Board Wanted SOUTHERN TRUNK LINE Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, November 26. “We might do very much worse than support this,” said the president of the North Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr. Colin Mclntosh, at a meeting of that body concerning a resolution from the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association urging the Government to give effect to the recommendation of the Railways Commission that the management of the railways should be removed from political control and handed over to an Independent board of directors. The letter stated that the resolution arose out of one of the most vital, interesting and serious of the national problems, and the committee of the Manawatu Association was of opinion that a strongly united body of public opinion should at once voice its support of the recommendations of the recent commission. Mr. Mclntosh said railways were experiencing a bad period everywhere in the world because of the great advance in motor transport. He considered that a mistake was being made in carrying on with the South Island Main Trunk line. At present farmers were being told by stock and station agents to put off more men and do more work themselves in order to meet the position now obtaining, yet when farm hands were discharged they were able to get employment on railway relief works at better wages than farmers could afford to pay, and this expense had to be borne by the taxpayers. , “Where would you put these men? asked a member. “There are thousands upon thousands of acres of unproductive land in this country which should be brought mto production," answered Mr. Mclntosh. It was suggested that much good would be done if it were possible to reduce, thtj high salaries of some of the officials. The chairman moved that the Government be urged to give effect to the recommendations of the commission in so far as they related to. the removal of the railways from political control. This was seconded by Mr. R, T. McMillan. ... The chairman: What is the use of paying a high salary to the manager if he cannot do what he wants to? “It is useless," said Mr. McMillan. The chairman: It is ridiculous to put a man in charge and say to him, “You ean’t do your job unless we approve of it.” The chairman added that he had been told that men were working on the South Island Main Trunk line with barrows when horses and scoops should be used. They were paid about £4 a week. It would be - more economical to send out teams with scoops and keep the man in camp. The motion was carried.