RAILWAY MATTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 12

RAILWAY MATTERS.

OFFICERS AND MEN

SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

A welcome was l extended to delegates attending tho annual conference of branches of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute at a smoke concert, held under the auspices of tho Wellington branch. Mr. R. R. Gow presided. The chairman said that the institute had been fortunate in the past in its councils and committees. Changing times had brought about a different outlook on railway affairs, and all credit was due to those who had accepted tho responsibility of dealing with the change. The president, Mr. V. R. J. Stanley, said that as far as tho executive committee was concerned, the past year had been one of tho most strenuous in the institute's history. It was a notable thing that they had been able to meet in their own offices. Tho fact that during the year they had been able to erect a building costing about £6OOO indicated the institute's progress.

Mr. M. J. Fordo referred to the improved service conditions under which the men now worked, and to the Appeal Board and the superannuation scheme. He mentioned the country's present transport system, which ho characterised as wasteful and unfair, and said that the management would have to face tho transport problem very seriously. The administrative officer, Mr. M. E. Dennchy, who apologised for the absence of the general manager, Mr. H. H. Sterling, said that the department was firstly expected -to give service of value to the community. In the second place, it was a business enterprise. If tho railways wero privately-owned tho shareholders would expect dividends. Being publicly owned, the railways wero expected to earn some interest on the money expended in their construction.

Mr. E, Casey, divisional superintendent, said that if thero was a national balancesheet showing tho benefits conferred upon tho pebplo by the railways, there would never bo any talk about loss on tho lines. Tho Postmaster-General, Hon. J. B. Donald, who spoke on behalf of tho Minister of Railways, lion. W. B. Tavcrner, said that tho members of tho institute had the sympathy of their Minister. The present controversy regarding railway lines was a good thing, because tho railways could stand all tho light likely to be shed upon them. Mr. 11. E. Holland, Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, said it was true that thoy wero faced with heavy deficits on the railway system, but if the goods of tho country were got to an economic market, even if they did lose on the railways, they gained in income. Tho Right lion. J. G. Coates, Leader of tho Opposition, who attended the function later in the evening, expressed his pleasure at being present, and said that he was still deeply interested in the activities of the department.