VALUABLE ADVICE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 155, 29 December 1924, Page 6

VALUABLE ADVICE

Though the Railways Commission was not so definite as could have been desired upon the two main recommendations of its report—control and finance—it has submitted much valuable and pointed advice upon administrative and operating systems. The railways in New Zealand have extended not from one centre but from several, and the present system is really the union of a number of systems originally separate and independent in operation. The unification is not yet complete, even as concerns the lines, and it is far from complete as touching the running equipment —workshops, rolling stock, and so on. The Commission, inspecting the railways for the first time, has been struck by the multiplicity of workshops and the fact that full use is not made of the rolling stock. This, doubtless, is the legacy of the time when each district necessarily had its own shops and controlled its own wagons and locomotives because it was not linked with other districts. But now that the districts are connected it is surely reasonable to abolish the remaining signs of separation. For this purpose the Commission recommends the centralisation of control of train movement and wagon stock distribution, and that locomotive repairs be made first at four centres and ultimately at two—■ Petone and Addington. As an. independent expert is now preparing a separate report upon this branch of the raihyays, the Government cannot yet state what course it will adopt; but we trust that parochial arguments will not be permitted to hinder the adoption of expert recommendations.

The public, have to thank the Commission for emphasising the necessity for considering public convenience in train management. There is competition with the railways now, but it is of comparatively recent growth, and it cannot be denied that the commercial sense, which competition evokes and develops, has hitherto been regarded as of less importance than other factors in train-running. That is why mixed trains have continued with us for so long, because the chief argument against them—delay and annoyance to tne travelling public—has been less weighty hitherto than the arguments of economy and railway convenience which favoured them. Excursion and tourist traffic also has been considered more as a generous concession to the public—a Christmas box of sorts—than as a business proposition. The Railways Commission counsels what is chiefly a different point of view, that the public needs should be studied. The method of giving effect to this cannot be laid down definitely. The judgment of the men who are dealing with current problems; must be relied upon, but the Commission's recommendations for speedier services, revised time-tables, reduction of mixed trains, and encouragement of tourist, excursion, and halfday suburban traffic appear to be thoroughly/well based. Motor collection and delivery of goods may help to meet the road competition on the goods side. The fact that these proposals are to some extent similar to the plans upon which the Department is now working does not lessen the value of the recommendations. It will take time to re-establish fully the commercial sense in railway control; but it is satisfactory to see that the work, as judged by the recommendations of men accustomed to competition has been begun upon the right lines.