RETRENCHMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 816, 21 October 1887, Page 32

RETRENCHMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, —It seema strange that amid the prevailing cry for retrenchment, attention has not been directed to the extravagant increase in expenditure on account of salaries to managers on the WellingtonWoodville section of railway. Until within the last two years the whole of the management of this line was in the hands of one man, with one office and staff of clerks. About two years ago, however, for some unknown reason this officer was removed. To take up his work, it was considered necessary to appoint three men; one as workshops and locomotive superintendent, another as engineer for permanent way, &c., and a third as traffic manager. It is needless to remark that this change was not effected without considerable increase in expenditure. For, whereas the late manager drew about L6GO a year, his successors’ salaries amount in the aggregate to about LI3OO per annum. And when it is considered that each of the latter has a separate office, with staff of clerks, it will be understood that the total increase does not fall short of LIGOO per annum. We are told that’ improvements have been effected in working and management during the paßt two years, but if so, they are of such a nature as to have remained, up to the present, undiscovered by those using the railway. Admitting, however, that such have been made, do they represent a fair return for the increased expenditure ? Would it not have been as well to have retained the services of the late manager at a salary of L6OO, and dispose of the additional LIOOO paid to his successors by reducing the rates on the section ? Let us now look at the extent of the line to see if it be necessary to have three heads to work it. It is about 80 miles in length with eight or nine stations with men in charge. Does it not appear unreasonable to suppose that it requires a man to act solely as traffic manager of this length with its eight or nine stations ? Surely if one man two years ago could cope with the whole of the work and carry it on successfully, two men could fairly be expected to do it now when the traffic is barely, if any greater, than it was then. Again, though the division of the management among three offices, independent of each other, may have a salutary effect in promoting a spirit of wholesome rivalry, it is not always conducive to the best interests of the management as a whole. From the foregoing it will be seen that an opportunity is offered to those who affect to be desirous—perhaps are so—of reducing the expenditure of public money, to prove whether they are in earnest or not; for that there are good grounds for thinking that the expenses of working this railway can be greatly lessened without impairing its efficiency, will be generally admitted.—l am, &c., Economy. •

Wellington, October 14.