Official Overseas Trip

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 168, 12 April 1935, Page 13

Official Overseas Trip

Sir, —The procession of Aliuisters, secretaries, wives, and departmental heads to England continues. Now it is the Director of Education. It is not suggested here that the Director of Education shouldn’t keep in touch with educational matters abroad, but some explanation is necessary as to why this visit is being undertaken so soon after a world tour by the head of the Auckland Training College. Perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that the cost of Air. Rae’s tour was not borne by the Government and, therefore, his observations are not acceptable to them. Apropos of Air. Sterling’s trip. Less than six months ago the Railway Department stated that “in the purchase of stores, control of workshops, manufacture of rolling stock and equipment, arrangements for the comfort and safety of passengers, and for the prompt, dependable delivery of freight,, the board nojv has the railways at so high a pite'h of efficiency that there is at present little scope for improvement beyond the natural development which time brings in the fast-moving realm of transport.” In view of this, and the fact that. the department, or board, does not consider the Diesel-electric train suitable for New Zealand conditions, why is it necessary for Mr. Sterling to travel. overseas at the country’s expense to inquire into railway operations generally.—l am, etc., TAXPAYER. Wanganui, April 9.