The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1922.

Evening Star, Issue 17919, 15 March 1922, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1922.

" The railway service is one thing on which no visitor

The Mismanaged c Railways. f 1

could possibly congratulate New Zealand.” This opinion

was expressed to an Auckland reporter by an Australian insurance manager after a journey on 'the North. Main Trunk line. Nor do Now Zealanders nowadays congratulate themselves on their railways. There was a time, not so many years ago, when Sir Joseph Ward informed Parliament on his return to the Dominion from a tour which had taken him through Urn Continent, Britain, and America that for its size the Now Zealand railway system compared favorably with any in the world. As he himself had for many years previously been Minister' , of Railways, there was an element of sclf.praise about this statement, but the-fact that none of his political opponents rose to contradict it—not even to seriously discount it—showed that the railways were giving satisfaction to the public, while official returns showed that they were paying. No one will bo found to dispute the fact that at present our railways do neither. They are a burden, instead of a support, to the Treasury, and a source of exasperation to travellers, consignors, and consignees. The policy directing them, if such it can be called, is a perpetual source of wonderment 'to business men. It accentuates the belief that since Sir Joseph Ward’s time there has been no Minister of Railways comparable to him, and it causes grave doubts to arise as to whether the management is at all competent. ' Mr Hiley’s regime was handicapped by the occurrence of a difficult period, not so much due to traffic disorganisation as to a war drain on personnel and the great scarcity of material needed to maintain a proper standard of rolling stock, permanent way, and other appliances. It is even doubtful if. his task was made easier by support where bo would naturally expect it. Since his retirement, railway management has deteriorated to a point indicating a crisis. IE our railway system had been privately owned there would long ago have been a peremptory demand from shareholders to directors for a thorough overhaul of the whole management. It is not in human i nature for those who have staked money in a venture which on past performances I could have been classed as in the nature of a gilt-edged security to sib quiet while their mpney leaked away at the rate of £3,000 or £4,000 a day. But there is no annual meeting at which the taxpayer can voice his. protest and follow it up, if need be, with the deposition of directors, and their replacement by those determined to secure officials who would bring about a change for the better. But all over the country protests are multiplying, and if the Acting Minister and his colleagues in Cabinet will not listen to those who have to make up the deficiency, perhaps they will bo moved from their policy of ignoring local protest by the extremely candid criticism of the Australian visitor who was so unfavorably impressed by his experience on what is regarded as the “ show ” line of our system. His journey, he says, consisted of a series of bumps and jolts, suggesting that the train was far too heavy for the engine. Like a great many other people, ho thought the policy of reduction of services a very foolish one, as, apart from inconvenience to users, it only accentuates the rapid deterioration of rolling , stock and track, which the management has already admitted. There is another aspect, and that is the effect on a staff who are required to carry on with inadequate appliances. If the policy of management is ono of unconcern for the reasonable treatment of valuable machinery, that feeling is bound to filter down to the human units actually operating that machinery. There is no surer way to make a man lose pride in his job than by asking him to do the impossible or stinting him the necessary appliances. Such a policy, continued long enough, -would reduce to “scrap” value the millions of pounds of capital represented in our system.

These are cardinal points in railway management. There ate also minor matters which come more noticeably before the public. Some of these, such as exasperating delays in the suburban services, have already been the subject of complaint in the columns of the Press. Then thero is the monotonous rebuff when special services are* asked for. As a recent instance there is Mr Gutbrie's refusal of the request, made through the Otago Expansion League, to continue a daily service to Queenstown and reins'tato the week-end excursions. The reason given *is that the department has tried every year and made a financial failure, of it. But the department is making a financial failure of the whole jaibvay system. A logical conclusion is that the department, it" it has a fixed policy, should cease running any trains at all. In fact, it seems to be gradually moving in that direction. The feeling is becoming widespread that it by no moans follows that, because our Railway Department cannot make either certain individual lines or the service as a wholo pay, our railways could not bo made to pay. That feeling is implied in the suggestion to sell the railways made at the Commercial Travellers' Conference; for there would be no buyers of a proposition which coxild result in nothmg but loss. This suggestion, though actually taken seriously enough by moje people than might bo thought, has been generally regarded as a retrograde one in so democratic a community as this. But among those Mter are many men with Bound business experience who strongly advoeatl prompt consideration of the leasing of our railway system far a gtaiecS period of years, the public being safeguarded from exploitation by Government regulations as to frequency of service and the fares and freights chargeable. Having doubts as to whether tho administration is in competent hands, they want a trial made under en- | tixely freßh administration; and the present position is such that none but tha thoroughly efficient could be tempted to undertake tho task of reform.

Tiie political dispensation which provides, according to Gilbert, that Religious "Evory little boy Or gal Statistics. That's born into this world alive Is either a iittlo Liberal Or else a little Conservative," has ils sharp contrast in the variety of the Churches Tho religious statistics taken in connection with tho census of last year, which have just been published as an appendix to tho main report, show that there aro thirty-two religious denominations to which one may belong in New Zealand. They include, besides the communions which aro better known, tho Assembly of God, the Church of God, the Community of tho Ron of God, the Swedonhorgians, tho Spiritual Church of Unity, United Evangelical, and Universal Theonionist (U.S.A.), all with one place of worship apiece (not necessarily a church). The Church of Christ (Scientist), Gathered in the Name of the Lord, Pentecostal, and Society of Friends have each two meeting-places, and evidence of tho progress made, among the Maoris of the North Island more particularly, by tho Reorganised Church of Latter Ray Saints (Mormon) is shown by its total of seventeen. The statistics do not include Rationalists, Atheists (if there are. any of these), or Agnostics, Tho places of worship possessed by the principal denominations are as follows:—Church of England 1,144, Presbyterian 1,062, Methodist" 659, Roman Catholics 519, Brethren 135," Salvation. Army 100, Baptist 73, Church of Christ 52, and Congregational 34. Altogether there is shown to be a total of 3,928 buildings used for the purpose of public worship, an increase of 81 in the past five years. Of these churches, as distinct from 1 halls, schoolrooms, and other buildings, number 57 per cent. The total places of worship have seating accommodation for 516,591, and the aggregate number of persons usually present at Use most largely attonded services on Sunday is 255,033. The average church, therefore, is not more than half-full at its most popular service. Since many larger churches are habitually crowded on these occasions, the inference appears to be that many small churches would not have their accommodation strained if all their congregations should unite together, Instead of assembling for their devotions under different j roofs.

The various denominations will, no doubt, draw their own morals from what these figures reveal. It is surprising to find that Wellington, which is not tho largest city, and where religious work is generally supposed to be conducted amidstmore difficulties than in some others, has the largest number of places of worship (91), the figures for the others being: Anekhnd 87, Christchurch 69, and Runedin 66. In respect of the proportions of churchgoers, as represented by those present at the most largely attended service in proportion to accommodation, Wellington also leads, with a proportion of 61.43 l>e." cent., compared wit.i 56.75 for Christchurch, 53.28 for Bunedin, and 52.24 for Auckland. Whatever the effect of Sunday concerts may have been in Wellington, they would not seem to have detracted from church attendance, a fact which may have bearing on a local controversy. The churches are filled still better in some smaller towns, notably in Palmerston North, Invercargill, Hamilton, and Gisbcrne, whero the proportions to accommodation are respectively 73.34, 70.74, 68.64, and 66.89 per cent. ' Fifty-eight percent, of the children of the Dominion are attendants at Sunday school, and this figure is exclusive of Bible classes.