RAILWAYS BOARD

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2560, 18 December 1924, Page 6

RAILWAYS BOARD

Mr Jas. Mason Receives Second Appointment

SUPERINTENDENTS FOR BOTH ISLANDS

[Per Press Association.]

WEUUINGTON, Dust Night

The Hon. .1. G. Coates. Minister of Railway’s, made a further statement last night with regard to the reorganisation of the Railway Department. “The formation of a board of management lias already been announced,’' said Mr Coates, “but that will not result in any departure from the principle contained in the Governin'm Railways Act, which places the control of the Railways and the Department entirely in the bauds of the Minister. Meantime, the Board’s powers will bo similar to those held by the General Manager and his assist ants, but the results aimed at am decentralisation and the delegation of responsibilities and duties. “Briclly, the management of the Department is now vested in a. hoard of three members. instead of being entirely in (lie hands of one general manager. The whole of (lie correspondence dealing with details of, the department’s activities in the various districts will be dealt with by other controlling officers. “Mr James Mason, who has hel l the position of first assistant general manager since January last, has now been selected io (ill one of the two remaining positions on the Board. No definite decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the third position, but arrangements have been made, to carry on temporarily by the appointment of an acting* member. “it lias a lso been decided, as part of (he general decentralisation scheme, to appoint two general superintendents, one in the North Island and one in the South Island, who will be responsible directly to the Board for tho operation of commercial matters and maintenance within each island. Officers to fill these positions will be selected in the course of a few days. My object in giving effect to thes« changes now is to enable the complete reorganisation to he working smoothly and be brought into operation as from the commencement of the financial year, April Ist next. "So far as the report of the commission is concerned, although I'have had definite proposals in regard to

many recommendations for some time, I do not propose to make a full statement of policy with regard to any matters dealt with, until such time ns die complete report is released for publication."