RAILWAY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 6

RAILWAY SERVICE

ALLEGATION DENIED

"UNFAIR IMPUTATION"

, Criticising statements made" in Parliament and oh the hustings by Mr. W. P. Endean (National, Parnell), Mr. A. F. Moncur (Government, Rotorua) said that tirades of abuse against the Labour Paty were pot arguments. Mr. Endean had made reference in Parliament to the lack of discipline amongst railway serVahts and had said that the accidents .that had occurred during the last twelve 'months were due to that cause. ' ■ . ; Members of the Opposition were in the habit of making irresponsible statements,-Said Mrv Moncur. When addressing a meeting at Rotorua recently Mr. Endean had'said that New Zealanders had developed into a race of spongers. Was it; any wonder that (audiences listening to such statements should show hostility to speakers who misrepresented them in the way he had indicated? If any man who took the platform had a real story to tell he would be listened to attentively, but irresponsible statements brought their own reward. An unfair imputation had been placed upon a body of manual workers by Mr. Endean, which was deeply resented. Mr. Endean's knowledge of the railways was evidently gained within the four walls of a sleeping compartment while travelling between Auckland and Wellington. He should travel on a X engine between Wellington and Palmerston North or from Taumarunui to Auckland to learn the responsibility placed on the men who were in the employ of the Railway Department. "FALSE ECONOMY." Speaking as an ex-employee of the Railway Department, Mr. Moncur said that the Railways Board, prior to the advent of the present Government, had carried out a stupid policy of false economy and had allowed the rolling stock to get into a deplorable condition. If vision had been applied to the>administration ,men ■.?,■ would have beehkebt at work; dufln'g;: the depression period building. < Wagons fbr use when prosperity returned. Today there was a shortage of trucks owing to the increased amount of trade, but the shortage was being overcome as speedily as possible. It was deplorable that the old Government should have closed down the State * sawmill at Mamaku when so much timber was required for new wagons. The ihQl had been reopened in 1936 and had paid handsomely. The Railways Board had disposed of hundreds of railway employees oh an actuarial basis. Many of these men were in the prime of life and had financial responsibilities which could only be met in the event of them being kept in employment to the usual retiring age.