RAILWAY REFORMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 June 1922, Page 3

RAILWAY REFORMS

WEST COAST NEEDS.

(Special to the Star.)

CHRISTCHURCH, June 14.

An interesting paper on the railways and need for improved methods of administration, was read by Mr H. J. Marriner, at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Progress League to-day. The scheme suggested met with the hearty support of delegates, and it was resolved to bring the suggestions under the notice of the proper authorities.

In the course of his paper, Mr Marriner said that in the past, numerous lines had been constructed for political purposes, and are either not completed, or, if completed, are a drag on the finances of the railways. An instance of this method is the Westport-In angahua line, which should have been completed years ago, but had been held up during the past 12 years, owing to the money for the construction being spent on other lines. There were only five trains running each way from Reefton to Inangahua weekly, hardly taking enough to pay the wages of the workers, while the Inangahua to Westport line was rotting away, as no trains had ever been run on this section, it not being completed, and yet this line would, if completed, link up all the valuable coal and other mines on the West Coast with the whole railway system of the South Island. Tho Inangahua to Westport line had cost £152.806, and the Inangahua to Reefton lino cost £171,357.

“When we consider,” said Mr Mr.rriner, “that very little has b°en done on these lines for the past 12 years, and that in 15 years the comp-ur.d interest has doubled the cost of the line, we have some idea of the ruinous cost of this way of construction. As all lines have, to meet all interest and cost of construction, we therefi re welcome the new policy of the Minister for Public Works in pushing on to completion the more important works and taking others in their proper order of national importance. The railwavs should not be run except on entirely business lines and methods.”

PROPOSALS OUTLINED.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, June 14.

At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Progress League a. paper was read on railways and the needs for improved methods of administration. The scheme which met with the hearty support of delegates suggested : (1) That advisory boards be formed of railway officials and businessmen in Auckland, "Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

(2) That some business men be elected by representatives of various bodies to meet weekly with the railway authorities and discuss any railway difficulties that may present themselves in regard to local control, etc. (3) That the Chairman of these Committees shall be business men and they shall, by virtue of their office, repre-

sent their districts on an executive board to be held in Wellington each month with the executive officers of the Railway and the Minister of Railways to discuss railway business matters.

(4) By this moans the Chairmen will be able to bring before this executive the local requirements which will be supported by the writing of local disI riot managers.

(5) All members elected to these Boards shall make a solemn declaration not to' divulge or discuss matters brought up for discussion and not to give any information to people or papers unless by sanction of the Board.

(6) Members of the Boards will be deemed advisory boards only and have no votes as regards the policy of the railways unless asked by the Minister of Rail wavs.