Sell The Railways!

NZ Truth, Issue 852, 18 March 1922, Page 1

Sell The Railways!

At^^Minual conference of the UniTravellers' and Warehousemen's Association, held m Christchurch last week, caustic criticism was levelled at the Government's management of the N-Z. railways. The concensus of opinion was that: The Government, haying proved its inability to. .''handle railway 'matters m the best; interests of the country, should toe asked' to consider the advisability of taking steps to bring the Department -under efficient commercial control, free from political -influence. .. ; This is tantamount. to asking that the Government should "hand the railways over-.tp private enterprise and that the suggestion is not lacking m general support may be judged' from the fact that the day following publication of the bagmen's resolution, no less a body

ithan the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association- expressed similar sentiments. A couple of weeks ago "Truth" commented briefly on the hopeless railway muddle, mentioning, inter' alia, that:

If. Massey and Co. sold out the whole box and dice now to a private Arm or syndicate, there's not the slightest doubt that such a firm could and would give the country an up-to-date service and at the same time make pots of money. It is rare indeed that Government ineptitude m any country . has - necessitated State- owned concerns being passed over to Tyriyate enterprise. As a matter of fact, the trend of affairs during the last few years 'has shown quite a reverse effect, public preference, being m the direction of State-owned rather than privately-ofwned concerns. It is 'significant* ■■'. therefore, of deplorable mismanagement m the NjZ. railways, when the very people who placed the present. Government m power, cry. that that "Government doesn't know its business, and should sell out. The commercial travellers and the farmers Who castigated the Department doubtless did so m all good faith towards themselves and a long-suffering community, but, rather than knock the show ddwn to the highest bidder and create another private monopoly m the country, the C.T.A. and A. and P. Association might as well centre their efforts on the next election and return a Government capable of placing the N.Z. railways on an intelligent business basis, fulfilling all public requirements and at the same time with that regard for economy, which is the backbone of any successful , commercial undertaking. \ •">• .