RAILWAY ECONOMIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7021, 8 January 1910, Page 7

RAILWAY ECONOMIES

HON. J. A. MILLAR’S RECORD, A YEAR’S ACHIEVEMENTS. On Thursday the Hon. J. A. Millar completed his first year of office as Minister of Railways, and. ho is able to show a record of work quite as useful as that accomplished in any of his previous, Ministerial appointments. Taking control of. the railways at a time of depression in trade; the task before him was to economise without impairing tho efficiency of a great developmental undertaking, and to avoid reductions in wages. This has been done, and tho Minister was able last night, during an interview with a “New Zealand Times” representative, to point to economies totalling , 1 0,000 per annum effected in working expenses. ■

FURTHER ECONOMIES PENDING. I Further alterations are contemplated to bring the railways up to a still more profitable point. As soon as the financial year ends, 'the Minister intends calling the District Traffic Managers to a couference to consider his proposal for cutting down the goods services to wayside stations. At present, tho system sometimes entails tho use of a truck for a week in conveying a ton of goods to a small station. It is proposed that consignments for

these wayside places should bo sent on at regular intervals, sufficiently far apart to ensure that a ten-ton truck is inot.pul - out of use for an inordinate time while waiting at a remote siding for the removal ot a few packages. Mr "Millar’s trip of observation of Australian railway methods will take place in March. He will leave Wellington on tho 18th of that month, and visit Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and, Sydney, returning to Wellington on April 18th.