RAILWAY MANAGEMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18742, 23 June 1924, Page 6

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT

THE SOUTH A BURDEN. PRODUCES LARGE DEFICIT. NORTH EARNS 6} PER CENT. [BY ! TELFGBAPBr.—PRESS ASSOCIATION J '•/'-;■ WELLINGTON. Sunday. The conference of the Railway Officers' Institute concluded oh Saturday. A social . was held in the; evening, presided over by Mr. R. W. McVilly, General Manager of Railways. ' Mr. Robertson, ; president of th© institute, stated that during the three and a-half years; he had been president, he had always received every courtesy at the hands of Mr. McVilly. When he ! was able to grant requests, Mr. McVilly had done so, and when he was not able he had always given the reasons. The mem- ' bers "■■ of the institute "■* could co-operate, with the general manager without sacrificing their, principles in any way. . Mr. McVilly stated; that after 45 year 3 of service he. could say that, having' regard to the, policy under which they were - run, and the special; circumstances created —he did; not create them—-the railways performed a useful service in spite of mismanagement, In the North Island,; whero the principal railway business was, they had a chance ,to ran things, and had paid £6 10s 6d per cent. '' In the South Island, with ; its level f roads, ; much . poorer country, and sparse population, they paid £2 2s. 6d per cent.; .The South had been v a burden to them, and the department was not responsible for the policy which decided where lines should be laid.' If, at '. the end .; of the year, things were bad. it was said to be mismanagement.: v It was hinted by Mr,. McVilly that it'; would not be,long; before he would be retiring.