RAILWAY BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1931, Page 6

RAILWAY BOARD

• * . VV '•> ' >. A t MANY CANDIDATES APPLY. WELLINGTON, May 1. Largo numbers of applications '’or positions on the Railway Board, to he set up under the Government Railways Amendment Act, passed, by Parliament- during the emergency session, have been received by various Ministers. All have been forwarded to the Prime Minister, who will lie responsible for the final selection of the Board of five.

According to the terms of the Act, the Board will assume office on June Ist. on which date the control of the railways will lie handed over to it. Although there are several important reservations, chiefly relating 1o finance, the new organisation will control the administration of the system, the staff, and the running of trains, and it will be in its power to report to Parliament upon the advisability Oi otherwise of carrying out construction works. One ol the most important aspects of the Board’s work, which it is expected it will undertake as soon ss possible, is that relating to the font lilies at present l under construction.. During last session, the Prime Minister presented a return to Parliament showing that the estimated annual loss on the seven lines then under construction would he over C 700,000 when they became operative. Since then work lias ceased on three of the inos. Much criticism was expressed when the Bill was before the House, because the proposed Board would have no power to report upon lines under construction. However, as a result of a request by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Lender of the Opposition, the Prime Minister agreed to give the Board this power.