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Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 December 1924, Page 6

following year,.; be rendered to the House of Representatives.

That the value of stores found on hand with branches and not on charge in the books of the comptroller oh stores be u«ed as -the nucleus of a reserve fund for arrears upon rolling stock. ORGANISATION. That the Railway Department be managed by a .Railway Board, comprising a chairman and ’two other members. •> 1 That a secretary, cashier and an operating and equipment assistant be appointed. That a chief mechanical engineer, fully qualified and thoroughly conversant with up-to-date methods of railway working, be appointed. That general .superintendents, one for the North Island system with headquarters at Auckland, the other for the -South Island system with headquarters at Christchurch, be appointed, responsible to the board and acting under regulations and instructions applicable to the system as a whole, for operation,. commercial matters, and maintenance within their respective divisions. That the number of traffic and civil engineering districts be reduced to six, three to each island. That one divisional mechanical engineer in each island is sufficient and that consideration be given to the question ’ as to whether the North Island . divisional engineer could not act as assistant to the chief-mechani-cal engineer. ENGINEERING.

That new lines likely to become main lines be laid with 701 b section rails as a minimum. That consideration be given to' the employment of flying gangs for the maintenance of bra'neh, lines. That modifications, be made in the proposals for improvements and new works essential to cope with present and prospective traffic. MECHANICAL. That modern machinery be provided in the locomotive workshops and the' general arrangements reorganised. That a progress system for dealing with repairs be adopted in the works. That a system of standard - gauges be introduced 'in connection with locomotive maintenance and renewal. That at Addington .works a separate shop be. provided for the maintenance of points and crossings. That the methods /R bringing in' locouiotives for repair be carefully re-’ viewed, to avoid engines being brought in for thorough overhaul too. frequently. That Petone and Addington works deal with the -whole of the locomotive requirements in both islands. • That , Napier, Whangarei, East Town, Greymouth and Invercargill be closed down for locomotive work. - That improved--'methods for getting engines through the shops be introduced, in order to reduce the .average time lor heavy repair and thorough overhaul. > That large expenditure on runningdieds is not warranted, as the proportion of the engines under cover would appear to he sufficient. That the capital stock of locomotives be regarded as ample for requirements, bearing iu mind the small annual mileage per engine. That as the- average age of the existing stock of locomotives is high, indicating a number of .obsolete types, these be replaced as early as possible. That, in ' addition to perpetuating the A, AA, AR, WAR. .and WS classes, a powerful type of shunting engine with three cylinders, a. main line express engine having sft 3in driving wheels and three cylinders, be designed, and for taking goods trains of heavier weight over steep inclines a, suitable Garratt engine be utilised. That llew locomotives be- purchased from' outside, rather than built in existing shops, which are not laid out for doing this economically. That consideration be given to utilising old classes of engines, such as L and LA, with one or two vehicles attached, instead of ordering special rail motors. That consideration be given to the purchase of Welsh" coal, which, as has been; stated in evidence, would reduce consumption. That trials be given to- ascertain to what extent it would be possible economically to use New Zealand coal.. That consideration .be given to the maintenance costs of carriages and waggons, which would appear to. be capable of reduction. That as the waggon stock appears to be high, careful consideration be given, to this matter.

Tli at as tlie average ages of carriages, brake vans and waggons are respectively 22.77, 27.45, and 22.79 years, indicating' a number of obsolete types, these be replaced as early as possible. That standardisation be introduced in connection with the length of carriages over headatocks. The types should not- exceed three, or at the outride four. Bogies and under-frames also to be standardised. That suitable statistical returns comparing costs, etc., be introduced. OPERATION. That a complete revision of timetables is essential. That mixed trains be reduced to a minimum. That tourist, excursion and half-day suburban traffic be encouraged by increased facilities and popular fares. That the control of train movement and distribution of waggon stock be centralised. That collection and delivery of goods and parcels in combination with motor-owners be introduced That no rental in addition to cost of construction, and , renewal be charged on private sidings. BATES AND FARES. That excursion lares be reduced. That lares for distances up to 5 miles be reduced. That great caution be exercised in reducing rates. That certain coal rates be increased. STORES. That the stores branch be reorganised so that the whole of the stores, including coal, be brought under the direct supervision of the comptroller of stores. That improved methods of conservation, distribution, and stocktaking be introduced. That the method of charging out stores be simplified and arranged so that- the Railway Department assumes responsibility for items immediately they are delivered. GENERAL. That more complete statistical data be compiled. That a graduated scheme of rail-way-training be instituted. That a programme of officers’ visits to other railways be arranged.