CENTRALISED CONTROL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 December 1924, Page 6

CENTRALISED CONTROL.

NOT A WISE POLICY. RAILWAY OFFICERS AND PUBLIC. SHOULD BE IN CLOSE TOUCH. Dealing with organisation, the report states that “centralisation was perhaps desirable in the earlier days of the railways, but the time has come when decentralisation to a certain extent is necessary.” / Later the report states : “Having regard to the geographical and other aspects of the i\e •Zealand railways, we consider that a Railway Board consisting of a Chairman and two other members, one' to control mainly commercial affairs and the other competent to direct the operation would prove the best type of management. We suggest the appointment of an Operating and Equipment Assistant, and in addition to the chief technical officers at headquarters we recommend the appointment of two General Superintendents, one for the North Island, with headquarters at Auckland, the other at Christchurch for the South Island, responsible directly 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 areas, the keynote being centralisation of principles with decentralisation of details, thus making for greater economy, more efficient working, and improved relations with freighters and the public. “In each Island the District Engineers and Mechanical Assistants to report monthly through their General Superintendent to the Chief and Mechanical Engineer respectively upon work performed, the state of work, and machinery under their charge, .and take instructions thereon. In addition to this the responsibility of the Chief Engineers, civil and mechanical, to be exercised by frequent inspection by themselves Or their principal assistants. It is, of course, understood that workshops are under the complete control of the Chief Mechanical Engineer and Chief Engineer respectively. “The Divisional Superintendents, given a wide discretion -with encouragement to develop areas under their charge, and being clothed with the necessary authority to deal with problems as they arise or seek advice when in doubt, would relieve headquarters /rom a mass of detail and correspondence. Being in direct contact with freighters and the people in general, they would be enabled to familiarise themselves with the conditions; ideas, and needs of each town and district, and obviate formal communications and orders from the Board. Thev should imikc. management pers'onal, ‘as distinguished from, distant management, whifch tends to appear impersonal. Many of the local grievances to which our attention has been directed coiild promptly be .dealt- with, or would probably never arise, under the more direct and authoritative supervision of the General Superintendent. We suggest that formal conferences at headquarters should be held once in three months. , !

“The districts at present under the control of Traffic Managers should he as shown upon the following diagram, and placed in control of District Superintendents under the’ of the General Superintendent. Whilst the latter would require a competent office staff, it is considered that there need be little, if any, increase in the total personnel, having regard to the reduction in the number of districts. The districts would have the approximate mileages indicated below : - “North ‘lsland: No; I,< Auckland 719 s miles; No. 2, Western 485 J miles; No. 3, Wellington 6Ql£ miles' total 1806 miles. “South Island: No 1, Christchurch 878 miles; No. 2, Dunedin 486 miles; No. 3, Southern 5571 " miles, total 1,9213; miles. “With regard to the selection and appointment of members of the Board, the desideration is to secure harmony and team, work in its fullest sense at headquarters. This can only be achieved by selecting trained -railway men, possessed of vision, zealous in carrying through the reorganisation of -the operating, mechanical, and commercial branches, and intent upon bringing the New Zealand railways up to the average world standard of cheap and efficient transport.”