PROPOSED RAILWAYS BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21148, 4 October 1930, Page 10

PROPOSED RAILWAYS BOARD

DIRECTORS* CONTROL FAVOURED. HEAVY WORKS AHEAD. (Peb United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, October 3. The proposal to remove the railways from political control was warmly commended by Mr M. Stewart, president of tlm Auckland Chamber of Commerce, which has advocated this etep for several years. Mr Stewart said he was confident that the proposed board could make larger savings than, the commission suggests. The whole question of economics would have been bettqr left to the proposed board, but he welcomed the suggestions as far as they - went. The increased fares and freights he regarded as inevitable. The heavy deficit annually was partly due to the fact that the railways were over-capitalised, but the department was faced with ■ further additions for capital works, including the Auckland and Wellington railway stations, Westfield deviation, and seven new lines. These uncompleted lines should he stopped unless it was proved that they would pay. “ The railway deficit is our most serious financial problem to-day," concluded Mr Stewart. “The loss is too heavy, and really constitutes a Budget deficit.”