RAILWAYS INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20593, 18 June 1930, Page 9

RAILWAYS INQUIRY.

WORK OF COMMISSION.

THE ORDER OF REFERENCE.

WIDE FIELD OF INVESTIGATION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.]

WELLINGTON. Tuesday

The personnel of the Railways Com mission has been finalised as follows:

Mr. R. Masters, of Stratford, chairman, Mr 1 . J. D. Hall, of Christchurch/ Mr. R. W. McVilly, of Wellington, and Mr. J. Marchbanks, of Wellington. Mr. G. W. Reid, accountant, of Dunedin, was asked to accept a seat on tho commission, but for health reasons ho was unable to do so.

The order of reference is to inquire and report as to the possibilities of increasing tho revenue and decreasing tho expenditure of tho New Zealand Railways, and more particularly as follows: (1) Whether the general organisation of tho department is such as to produce the maximum of economy and efficiency in administration and operation. (2) Whether the scale of passenger fares is such as to produce tho best results, having regard to other competitive forms of transport and all other relevant considerations.

(3) Whether tho issue of concession tickets at present rates and on present conditions is warranted or should be modified or changed, having regard to present economic conditions.

Freight Tariff

(4) Whether the goods tariff is such as to produce the best results, having regard to the charges that various classes of goods can hear economically, and to the competition from other forms of transport/. (5) Whether the existing arrangements for tho carriage and delivery of parcels and/or goods are best from the point of view of the net earnings of tho railways from them, tho necessity of meeting competition, co-ordination with the Post Office, or any other relevant consideration. (6) Whether the existing arrangements with the Post Office for the carriage of mails is equitable to the railways. (7) Whether tho net returns fram various subsidiary services maintained by the department,' such as Lake Wakatipu steamers, refreshment rooms, advertising, dwellings and other buildings, road motors, etc., aro satisfactory, having regard to the returns obtained from them, economy in administration and generally all the surrounding circumstances. (8) Whether tho existing staff establishment, including casual employees, is such as to ensure a satisfactory .standard of economy and efficiency, and whether staff conditions generally are reasonable. (9) Whether the maintenance costs of permanent way works and signals are down to the minimum consistent with the maintenance of a proper standard of safety and efficiency in operation. Reserve For Depreciation.

(10) What reserve fund should be set aside from revenue each year to cover depreciation and renewals, including deferred maintenance and/or depreciation, and/or renewals, if any, or by "way of general reserve.

(11) Whether tho present arrangements for tho maintenance of combined railway and road bridges are equitable to the railways. (12) Whether the rolling stock is being economically maintained at a proper standard of safety and efficiency. (13) Whether tho maximum of benefit is being obtained from tho new workshops recently erected in the four main centres, and whether tho volume of necessary work will bo sufficient to keep these shops fully occupied; and as to the general position of the workshops. (14) Whether locomotivo transportation costs aro down to the minimum consistent with the maintenance of a proper margin of safety and -efficiency in operation.

(15) Whether the existing arrangements for purchase, distribution and control of railway stores keep stocks down to the minimum consistent with efficiency, and generally produce the maximum of economy in the use of stores.

Traffic Transportation Costs.

(16) Whether traffic transportation costs are down to the minimum consistent with the maintenance of a proper standardof safety and efficiency in operation, having regard to the amount of service required under present competitive conditions and to anv other relevant consideration.

(17) Whether the abandonment of working (either wholly or in part) of any portion or portions of the railway system would bo justified, having regard to tho financial results of operating any such lines, the extent to which the various lines aro used and the alternative means of transport for passengers and goods available or feasible. (18) To what extent it is possible and desirable in the interests of the economic welfaro of the Dominion to co-ordinato rail and road transport, having duo regard to tho rights of owners of road transport services, the necessity of a satisfactory standard of service, and all other relevant considerations. (19) Generally to review tho administration and financial position of tho department, and to recommend what, if any, stops might be taken to secure tho proper balanco of economy, efficiency and satisfactory service. Tho report is to be returned not later than September 1.

REFORM PARTY'S POLICY

CONTROL BY DIRECTORATE

ABOLISHING POLITICAL FACTOR

[llY TIXKGRAnt. —OWN CORUKSI'Ois'DKNT PAPAROA, Tuesday

A radical reform in tlio control of tlio Now Zealand Railways was advocated by the Right Hon. .1. 6. Coates, Leader of tlio Opposition, in his address last evening. lie said the policy of the Reform Party was to remove the railways from political control and transfer tlio man agement to a directorate. The latter should consist of from 13 to 15 members with the general manager as chairman. Mr. Coates said tlio" State railways in Canada, Belgium and Germany were being operated on methods similar iti principle to the policy bo proposed. The results had proved that independence of political control was the most effective means of eliminating tlio unsatisfactory features of tlio present system.