NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21054, 17 June 1930, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

COMMISSION: OF INVESTIGATION. ; — > • ■ POLICY REQUIRES OVERHAULING. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, Jane IC. . A statement to the effect that the setting up of the Railway Commission was not a reflection on* the officers* of the' department was made by the Prime ’ Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes). ; ■ "The setting up 'of this- commission of investigation in respect to trailway administration as such is hot on its * taken as any reflection of the manage- ■ ment and staff of the railway service. I recognise that, the men who are" responsible for running the railways are capable and . efficient officers, and. that they are actuated by a keen desire to get the best possible results from the service, both, from a financial and a public utility point of view. They are not responsible for many of the points of policy, and it is in these directions that the Government feels that, there is need for investigation. The railways administration as such is not .on its, trial, as has been suggested in some quarters, but it is,the policy which-re-quires overhauling so: that .Parliament and the country will clearly understand what are its weaknesses from a financial point of view and what can be done to - remedy the very big loss now being thrown upon the taxpayer. We have a large sum of* money to provide in respect to the Working railways this year, as I have indicated in the recent survey of the national finances, and we have’ to decided how much ,of ..-that can'he r ' justifiably incurred ; in respect to,, the national utility services, what is a fair . thing to ask the taxpayer to- beaiyiand what economies can be effectedVinther operation of the railways.” ' ' . '