URGENT LINES FIRST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18549, 6 November 1923, Page 10

URGENT LINES FIRST.

ftp NEW RAILWAY POUOY, $■■ ;■;■ ;•■ •' v^. '■. S@BCOMMONSENSS " IDEAS. OVER-CENTRALISATION EVILS MR. -CO ATE 8' OBJECTIVE. : fBjI TELEGRAPH. — PRESS , ASSOCIATION.I CHSTSTCHUK'CH. Monday. In replying to a deputation from the Canterbury Progress League, regarding railway matters, to-day, the Minister for Railways,-the Hon. J. G. Coates, Raid that he had undertaken his present extended tour of the Dominion in order to ascertain Ijvhat programme of railway works should be adopted, not only in respect of each locality, but for the whole of New Zealand, and to take the different matters in the order of their urgency or necessity, as the case might be. When the tour was completed, said Mr. Coates, he intended to draw up a statement, setting out the works he considered to be most urgent. K" intended to recommend that a definite commitment be made, and it would be his duty to arrange with the Minister for Finance as to how tho different works were to bo financed. By this means, and by the exercise of patience here and there, they would be dealing with the matter with something like method and in a way similar to that in which business men would tackle it. This would result, he hoped in more satisfaction than if they went about it in a higgledy-piggledy way, promising this and that. The Minister said that his idea was to concentrate on the most outstanding works and to get them through. They must not forget that the present position had been brought to a certain extent by war and nost-war conditions, and that it Would require expenditure of a vast amount of money before they could seo daylight aherd. That position had to be faced' and he believed the people of the Dominion would back up a common- , sense and businesslike programme. tie hoped that in three months' time he would bo able, after consulting his colleagues, to make public his recommenaavl°Mr. Coates stated that he believed that if they could decentralise and bring the •departments of State into touch with the public they would be doing what was best in t>'e interests of each department. They would have the representative of the department iu each locality conversant with his subject. He should have certain authority and should go as far as that r.uthoritv would take him. It be wanted more," all he had to do was to communicate with the General Manager and have his wishes confirmed. Over-centralisation was a mistake and led to misunderstanding and delay in these days. What was wanted was finality, and finality was what thev were aiming at. The General Manager of Railways, Mr. R. W. McVilly, said that the deputation had asked the department for improved ; services, but had they considered the matter of increased expenditure, which woyld be necessitated? Were they aware ' that last year there had been a loss of £350,000 on the South Island main lines? The Westland section had been * £67,936 short. He thought it was necessary for people, when asking for improved services* to consider the consequent increase . - in expenditure. The working; figures, were now showing & better comparison only because of the economies effected in ex' penditure. The department was often in . a difficulty as to how to make both end# meet. The financial depression was not confined entirely to the railways. Business houses throughout the country were ,'feeling the pinch, but the railways, as a public utility, were receiving the cumulative effect of the depression, which was touching all New Zealand's, commercial concerns. t''