THE RAILWAYS

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1930, Page 8

THE RAILWAYS

In view of the Royal Commission’s report on the New Zealand railways, it is interesting to hear what is being done about the railways in' New South Wales. Men from the country met the new' chief railways commissioner (Mr W. J. Cleary) recently in Sydney. It was at the Ptiraary Producers ’ Conference. Mr Cleary has to control a large number of country development lines that do not pay, and apparently never will. There is, for instance, the 40 miles of lino from Glonrcagh to Dorrigo. Tt coat £1,250,000; now, after six years, the State spends on it £92,000 a year, and receives £IO,OOO. It has been suggested that non-paying lines should cease, but Mr Cleary points out that closing them wmuld not save the interest payments, and tho linos w'ould rapidly deteriorate. Tho deficit on tho railways is now' stated to be likely to reach £5,000,000, and that staggering amount can hardly be made up. Curtailments of services and general economies so far only account for £BOO,OOO. Last «veek 650 locomotive cleaners were given notice of dismissal, after they had refused to agree to rationing of w r ork. A similar number will be reduced —drivers to firemen and firemen to cleaners. The chairman of tho board in charge of the tramways expects a deficit for the year of £500,000 5 but that branch of the services can be more easily dealt with, now' that the board has in its hands power to regulate its competitors. Omnibus and taxi-bus owners arc in a state of uncertainty, as the board is considering their part in the transport services. There are about 450 taxi-bus drivers in Syduey, many of whom own their cars.