“UP AGAINST IT.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 December 1925, Page 5

“UP AGAINST IT.”

RAILWAYS OF THE WORLD. NEW ZEALAND’S PLANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM. That the problem of making railways pay is not confined to New Zealand, but is of world-wide currency, was made clear by the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) at a dinner tendered him by the New Zealand Farmers’ Fertiliser Company in New Plymouth last night. “Not only our railways,” said Air. Coates, “but the railways of the whole world are suffering at present a very severe trial.” America, for instance, had tried almost every conceivable course in her desire and endeavour to get back the trade that was leaving her railways. She had tried reducing charges, both freight and fares; but that had not been successful —the additional custom was not sufficient to yield an increased revenue. America’s latest move was to reduce overhead costs, and the railways of the United States had pulled down their man strength by half a million. The German railways had similarly reduced their employees by 300,000. Britain, too, was seeking means of meeting the problem. Turning to the position in New Zealand, the Prime Minister said that, very roughly, the department’s policy was to endeavour to serve, the public, but on strictly business lines. They had many schemes for making it possible to give a good service without making a charge upon the taxpayer. The department had appointed officers to meet the public, to talk frankly with prospective customers and to go out after their business. Then they were endeavouring to educate the staff, and to get each and every member of it —no matter in how humble a position—to become an important unit in a machine.

“If you can get the will into a man you will get the way,” said Mr. Coates, adding that the Railway Department was trying to instil into its staff the spirit of progress and the determination to conquer, so that the best possible service might be given to the public. Finally the department- was aiming so to link up railway and road transport that it could deliver to the homes of the people, even in the backblocks, the department to get “a cut out of it.” “That is our policy,” concluded the Prime Alinister. “I think we can do it, because I think, we have the men for the job.”