RAILWAY MATTERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19011, 6 November 1923, Page 8

RAILWAY MATTERS.

THE HON. J. G. COATES’S TOUR. HIS POLICY OUTLINED. WORKS TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN ORDER OF URGENCY. (Pee United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 5. Replying to a big deputation from the Chamber of Commerce and other interests, which urged various matters calculated to make the railways pay —particularly the Midland line, where special back-loading rates are necessary—the Hon. J. G. Coates said the department was preparing a programme of work for the whole of New Zealand, and it would be considered in the order of urgency of the work. Everything possible would be done to prevent centralisation. and he hoped that soon the General Manager would move about more and get into touch with the people. Reductions were not so simple as they sounded, and competitive rates on the Midland line would lead to a demand for similar rates on other lines. The whole question of freights ami tariffs was under review, and while on the West Coast he would discuss the question. He hoped to hand the tunnel section over to the Railway Department soon, but the contractor could not bo relieved of liability. As for the Lyttelton tunnel, duplication was a necessary preliminary to electrification. Mr R. W. M’Villy (General Manager of Railways) said that cheap rates for bulk loading would have a serious effect on the earnings. In a reply o a Canterbury Progress League deputation on railway matters, Mr Coates said he had undertaken his present extended tour of the dominion to ascertain what programme should bo adopted not only in respect of each locality, but for the whole ot New Zealand, and to take the different matters in the order of their urgency or necessity as the case might be. When the tour was completed he intended to draw up a statement setting out the works he considered most urgent, and he intended to recommend that a definite commitment be made, and it would bo bis job to arrange with the Minister of Finance as to how the different works were to be financed. _ By this means and by the exercise of patience here and there they wotfld bo tackling the job with something like method, and in a way' similar to that in which business men would tackle it. This would result, he hoped, in more satisfaction than if they went about, it in a higgledy-piggledy way, promising this and that. His idea was to concentrate on the most outstanding works and get them through. They must not forget ° that the present position had been brought about to a certain extent by war conditions and post-war conditions and that it would require the expenditure of a vast amount of money before they could see daylight ahead. That position had to be tackled and he believed the people of the dominion would back up a common-sense and business-like programme. He honed in three months’ time that he would 'he able, after consulting with his colleagues, to make public his recommendations. Ho believed if they could decentralise and bring the Departments of State in touch with th o public they would be doing what was best in the interests of each department. They would have (he representative of the department in each locality conversant with his subject. He should have certain authority and should go as far as that authority would take him. If he wanted more, all ho had to do was to communicate with the, general manager and have his wishes confirmed. Over-cen-tralisation was a mistake and led to misunderstandings and delay. In these days what was wanted was finality, and finality was what, they were aiming at. Mr M'Villy said that the deputation had asked the Department for improved services. but had they considered the matter of the increased expenditure which would be necessitated? Were they aware that last year there had been a loss of £250,000 on the South Island lines and that the Westland section had been £67,938 short? He thought it was necessary tor the people when asking for improved services to consider the consequent increase in expenditure. Since 1920 the railway traffic had not. 'inmroved. In fact, it had beep practically dead. The revenue had not increased because of increased traffic, but toe v.o ing figures were now showing a better comparison only because of the economies effected in expenditure. The Department was often in difficulty to make both ends meet. The financial dojiression was not confined entirely to the railways, and Business houses right through the country were feeling the much, but the railways, as a public' utility, were receiving the cumulative effect of the depression which was touching all of i\ew Zealand’s commercial concerns.