TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 135, 7 June 1912, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Speaking at Auckland last night, the Hon. A. M. Myers referred to Railway the necessity of an applicaReform. tion of the country's "best braina" to improve the management of the Railway Department. "The position will have to be reviewed," he said, "especially as the chief officials are near the time for their retirement." He hinted that the Government would submit certain proposals to provide "most efficient management and the introduction of most modern ideas." The first necessity is the elimination of the element of political control. Also, any scheme of comprehensive improvement must amend the system of accounting. The huge enterprise has not been run on sound business lines. Recently, during Sir Joseph Wafd'B sojourn in Sydney, it was stated by the Wellington correspondent of one of the papers that the New Zealand railways were over-capitalieed, by reason of the lack of a system of writing down certain assets and by the charging renewals wholly to capital. Criticising this statement, Sir Joseph said : — "There are no fewer thart six fully-equipped workshops at different portions of the railway system, and the policy has been adopted right through to ensuae that nothing is allowed to depreciate to the extent of .requiring a. deficiency to be wiped off. Every vehicle has to go into the railway workshops, and to be maintained in a condition of first-class efficiency." Yet there does come a time when a locomotive, for instance, iias to be "scrapped." What happens? ' A new one comes from borrowed capital, and the country continues to pay interest on the cost of tho one replaced. The country has one new working locomotive for the price of two — the double charge against loan. Is not this -an over-capitalisation process? Mr. Myers has a huge task before him in any endeavour to get the railways on to a sound business basis. A correspondent complained in The Post yesterday that "Unqualified there were, many "unTeachers." qualified teachers" who failed to take advantage of facilities for improving themselves. The uncertificated teacher is a problem with which various Education Boards have grappled from time to time. Last year tho Gtago Board invited tho co-operatiOn of the Wellington Board in a request to the Education Department for the establishment of correspondence classeß for uncertificated teachers. In a report on this proposal, the Wellington inspectors submitted that correspondence classes might undesirably develop into an easy means of entering the teaching profession. It was therefore advised that it would be better to try to smooth the way for the uncertificated teachers to the training colleges at suitable times of tho year. The inspectors recommended winter and summer sessions of, say, a month's duration. This its a matter which comes within the order of reference of tho Education Commission. The Teachers' Institute will have an abundance of testimony on the subject, and it will be advisable to get the opinions of uncertificattd teachers, willing to improve their status, but lacking the means to reach the standard of efficiency desired by the whole community. The Hon. H. G. Ell, Postmaster-General, has been assailed as an Thanks to incorrigible " faddist " Mr. Ell. by some httffih critics, but we believe tho public will heartily welcome some of tho " fads.'.' For example, the people should be pleased to have a trial of Mr. Ell's proposal to use the Postal Department, on business lines, to facilitate the transit and delivery of fteh and fruit. There it* certainly no lack of scope for directl) linking up producers and coneumem, to their mutual advantage. Hore is oiw way to help to reduce the\:ost of living, provided, of course, the saving to the public iv not lost in the cost of the system. Another desirable innovation by Mr. Ell — a. matter comparatively small in policy but none the less admirable — is an instruction for the -planting of vacant spaces adjoining Pott Offices. It is time that a campaign for the covering of ugiin-cts in many «. public place was- vigorously frtarbxl. and Mr. Ell has the neeaawi'v ch,perienoo> and enthusiasm to act sonvothiug dono. Hib enterprise in this direction should not be overlooked by his colleague of Railway*, the Hon. A. M. My«ns. The telfa

of hideoueness dwell fchickly on and about railway buildings up and down and across the two islands. It seems to bo a tradition in this counti-y that ugliness is the natural concomitant of a railway platform and adjacent structures. In England there ie a very different order, and nearer to New Zealand ouo may ccc beauty near the metalled way. Perhaps Mr. Myers has noted the pretty touches along the lines of New South Wales*. Wfc know that h* hac* larger railway things on hie mind for the present, but the improvement of the appearance of much railway property at least deservec to be kept " steadily in view."