RAILWAY ECONOMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20580, 3 June 1930, Page 5

RAILWAY ECONOMY.

ATTITUDE OF EMPLOYEES.

MATTERS FOR INQUIRY

[BY TELEGRAM. —mESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIX, Monday.

At a largo meeting of tho Otago branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the proposal of the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, to Bet up a commission to inquire into tho working of tho railways was (lis -ussed. _ ! The meeting passed a resolution urging that before any adjustments were made the following questions should bo inquired into:—(1) To what extent has tho policy of previous successive Governments in using the railways as adjuncts to land settlement and development and assistance to industry been responsible for tho present debt of £57,000,000? (2) lo what extent liavo railway finances been affected by such a policy and what is , the measure of increased revenue through , various channels of taxation by reason of such assistance being given ? (3) Whether tho country as a whole should not now carry its just share of this debt, j instead of its being wholly on tho work- ; ing Railways Account, thereby prejudic- : ing tho standard of living of those emi ployed in industry. (4) As tho railways j have been compelled to pay for capital ' cost of nil railway lines, tho motor interests should be called upon to pay their i share of capital cost of roads instead of j being able to use highways paid for alj most wholly out of public funds.