THE RAILWAYS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 December 1924, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS

INFORMATION DEMANDED.

MR, McVILLY’S SERVICES. EULOGISED BY PRESS; (By Telegraph.—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 17. The announcement by the Minister of Railways that the department will be controlled by a board of three has led to a surmise regarding the positions of the first and second assistant general managers who took, office only last January. Mr. James Mason, the first assistant, was placed •- in charge of transportation and the commercial branches'. In that capacity he has been responsible for the active policy of meeting motor competition and canvassing ,for transport business, remodelling .of train ischedules, including the introduction of the Auek-land-Wellingtoii limited express. His colleague, Mr,/ H. H. Sterling, second assistant, has, since hie- .appointment, had most to do with the difficult situation' leading up to the railway strike and the negotiations for a settlement. . His special sphere is staff control. . . The Minister by leaving the two positions on the Control Board temporarily - unfilled creates the impression that he may leave these officers; who, in. the matter of salary, ranked equal'with the chairman of the board, iii ’ charge ,of -their vespective branches, but with the changed titles. It is. recalled that, when making the appointments of assistant managers, the Minister -stated that the responsibilities'appearing to attach to these positions were fully defined and, consequently, the General , manager was relieved of a large amount vof work connected with those branches which occupied a considerable portion of his time previously. The results of this reorganisation were being watched, and changes would be made .if it was found, by practical working, to be advantageous. Similar steps, he said, had been taken with regard to the position of chief engineer, 'whose duties'and scope of authority ,bad also been defined. The New Zealand Times points out that the latest development in railway control has no statutory authority, the statute referring throughout to the General Manager as the responsible head of the department. More information is demanded by the Wellington Post, which says: “It appears either that the announcements have been delayed, or that changes have been rushed, and the Minister would be well advised to make a comprehensive statement, which will remove’ any public suspicion ,of precipitate action. His brief statement quoted'a recommendation from a report of the Railways Commissiojij but ;the complete report is not yet available .for publication. Uritil it is, and until the Minister explains more fully Than he has done hitherto the powers .and duties of the new board of management, it is impossible for the" public to judge the effect of the changes. We are told, for example, - that 'the commission approves of the appointment of a board, but not whether that approval is subject to the abolition of political control, nor has.any.statement been made as to the. dutiesof the three board members,, rind -vwhether, as is reported, it is. proposed to separate the North and South Island railway, systems. . .Mr. McVilly has been for so long principal officer that his resignation must leave' a gap; He has been, in his time,, subjected. .to •much criticism, often unjustly,' because he has declined to depart from traditional civil service rule and seek publicity even to defend- himself. -Only in his annual reports to .Parliament has he revealed the difficulties und,e.r which he has worked. A'study" of these reports shows - that the management has. had to contend with trying political problems, to endeavour to satisfy politicians who called loudly for business management arid yet refused to discard “the rules of the service which were framed upon politicalrather than business considerations. Tt will be found in later years, we are sure, that Mr. McVilly has done splendid work in building ut) the railway service under most .difficult conditions.”