THE RAILWAYS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12528, 18 August 1926, Page 8

THE RAILWAYS

PREMIUM BONUS SYSTEM ' ! LABOUR LEADERS RAISE OBJECTIONS i ~~~ MORE ACCIDENTS PREDICTED The Railways Statement was discussed in the House yesterday. Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition) complained that the balancesheet of the railways did not show that there had been a loss on non-paying lines of .£480,000, which had on paper been made to represent a revenue of .£79,000. He was struck, he said, with the freight increases, particularly upon wheat, locally-grown, fruit, and timber. On the other hand, while the freights were being raised on some of the primary producers, concessions were being given to the beef exporters. A certain amount of moral damage was being done by the nature of the advertisements on railway hoardings, and he thought that if advertising had to be done in this way, it should be on behalf of the New Zealand Tourist Depaitment. He read into the report that it was intended to raise the rent of those dwelling in railway houses, but he asked how this could be done without also raising the wages of the men. It would be interesting to see esactly what was the cost of these houses. The Consolidated Fund should be used for making good any loss that might be incurred upon a home-building scheme. This fund was drawn upon to make up for nonpaying lines The present system of one day’s wage being one week’s rent should be done away with. Mr Holland objected to the premium bonus system. Even were it a proper system, it should be applied universally and not only for the benefit of a few of tho railway workers. The attitude of the department was that the men were not doing a fair day's work. The men were being asked to speed up, and then promised half the result of their speeding up. HEALTHY FINANCES Sir John Luke (Wellington North) said he considered the statement a very straightforward and creditable one, in view of the extraordinary amount of unemployment existing. Some of the lines had never been able to pay for their axle grease, and he was of opinion that any shortage should be met from the Consolidated Fund. He favoured a } renewal fund, for the depreciation fund j would not cover all things. For a young | country with a limited population, the • railways in New Zealand were very creditable, and he thought the surplus of ,£21,000 was very satisfactory; while in 26 years the revenue had increased from £1,623,000 to over <£8,000,000. showing an extraordinary growth. The in-terest-earning of the concern, too, showed a healthy condition, and showed that the railways were not a burden to those who did not utilise them. He urged the Government to substitute the present modern carriage for steel frames, which were widely used in most other countries, and also stressed the dangers of the gas lighting as compared with the electric light. The presence of gas constituted a grave risk in the case of accident. The superannuation fund had for somo time been in a perilous position, and there had been a transfer of a large sum of money Inst year to build it up and meet claims for payment.

The Railway Department was doing great service in running the Lake Wakatipu steamers, and overseas visitors used them extensively. The Tawa Flat deviation would effect a great saving in wear and tear. He advocated the electrification of the Christchurch-Lyttelton line.

Mr Geo. Forbes (Hurunui) complimented the department on the reduction it had been decided to make in the carriage'of fertilisers. He hoped that seniority would, be placed on one-side, and that merit alone would count in the service. In considering branch lines he believed that the traffic could be more expeditiously handled by motor rail cars, which were less expensive to run. He hoped that the experiments which the department was now carrying out would be successful in eliminating much of the loss now being occasioned on the branch lines. The comfort of passengers would have to be considered in its general sense, for some of the cars were decidedly uncomfortable. Mr Forbes referred to a review of the losses on the Picton railway, and asked if the same searching investigation had been made in respect to all other lines. Had the double magnifying glass been placed over the carriage of produce in the South Island. He urged the completion of unfinished lines. Mr W. D Lysnar (Gisborne) urged the I use of electric battoty propelled rail cars, and said this was the solution of the non-pnyinv lines Mr H. E. Holland: Ts that how the Gisborne trams were run. Mr Lysnar: Yes; that is the system. There was nothing wrong with the system. I Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central)! Ts that why thev were taken offp ! Lysnar • That made no difference. I The system will always he a success. Mr Lysnar complained of the proposal to divert tho East Coast line from Wairoa along the coast to Gisborne. There was no question as to the financial possibilities. The’ const, line people would not use the rati. # He declared that the Xaoier-Gisborno line had been neglected unduly, and the policy of the Railway ~?partment had been reversed. He ob?tod to this being dealt with under K. o Public Works Statement. FARES AND WAGES Mr W. J. Jordan (Manukau) asked that children up to five years of age should be carried free of charge, and that the half-fare age should be raised from 12 years to 15 years. He ridiculed the idea of the proposal to increase the railwayman's wages by 10-44ths of a penny per hour—lOd per week, or «£2 3s 4d per year—and said this was pot worth picking up. He wished to see the difference between the first and second divisions in the department ended, and also broached the question of second-class sleeping accommodation. Sir Joseph Word (Invercargill) admitted that the public of New Zealand lmd nothing to complain of in respect to the running of tho railways, which, for general upkeep, wore better managed than Hm.so of any other country. Ho thought the department should adopt a rate of interest: fixed by the administration for the Railway Department to work to.