THE RAILWAY BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 313, 2 December 1933, Page 6

THE RAILWAY BOARD.

SALARIES CRITICISED. PREMIER’S DEFENCE. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. “An unwarranted and extravagant expenditure,” declared Mr A. S. Richards when the House of Representatives was called on to approve the vote of £2675 for the Railway Board. Of this sum the chairman received £875 and the four members £450 each. There is also an item of £7OO for' travelling expenses. Mr Richards noted that there had been no reduction in these items, though when it came to the actual management and the men who did the work the expenditure was to be reduced. He did not consider the board had justified itself in the results, though no doubt it was a convenience for the Government behind which to shelter The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) replied that the Railway Board system was tile settled policy of the Government and was a great advantage not only to the State but to the railway staff, which felt confidence in their administration. He believed the board was doing its best to preserve the harmonious working of the staff. Mr Richards: Do they lay down the general policy ? The Prime Minister: The policy is to run the railways, bearing in mind that it is a social service. At the same time the board is called on to see that it is not causing a loss to the taxpayer. Mr Forbes added that the annual cost to the taxpayer had been £2.000,000 and the board was trying to bring it down until there would be no charge on the Consolidated Revenue. As for the cost of the board, it was trifling compared with the large capital it administered. Mr F. Langstone: What is the deficiency now ? The Prime Minister: About a million and a-half.