THE RAILWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22568, 11 May 1935, Page 2

THE RAILWAYS

REARRANGEMENT OF DISTRICTS OHAKUNE TO BE ABOLISHED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 10. Mr G. H. Mackley, general manager of railways, made the following announcement to-day on behalf of the Railways Board regarding important decisions affecting the general organisation of the department:— The financial result of all the changes indicated is estimated to be a net saving of £2200 per annum. There are four principal North Island railway districts at present —Auckland, Ohakune, Wanganui, and Wellington. Consideration has been given on different occasions to the question of abolishing the Ohakune district, and absorbing portion in the Auckland and the balance in the Wanganui district. This proposition was a prominent feature of the Fay-Raven Commission's report, but was not given effect to because at the time and since, the department's communications were not such as would permit of satisfactory and efficient control being exercised from the more remote headquarters at Auckland and Wanganui in the event of a serious breakdown in the Ohakune district.

Recently, however, the last link in the scheme of improved telephone communication between Wellington and Auckland has been completed, and train control facilities have been installed and are operating successfully, while cuttings and fillings en route, which in the earlier history of the Main Trunk line were a source of anxiety, give little trouble today. District headquarters at Ohakune Junction were never justified from a purely commercial or business point ol view, but were established on the opening of the line solely on account of trainrunning and transport considerations.

The board has now decided to abolish the district headquarters at Ohakune as soon as is reasonably practicable, and the boundaries of the North Island traffic and maintenance districts will be readjusted as follows-: The northern, or Auckland district, will include all lines north of, but not including, Okahukura Junction, and all lines radiating east from Frankton. The middle, or Wanganui district, will include all lines south of, and including Okahukura Junction, up to, but not including Palmerston North, and all lines radiating west from Marton. The southern, or Wellington district, will include all lines from Wellington to Napier, via Manawatu and Wairarapa, and including Palmerston North station, also Foxton, Greytown, Port Ahuriri, and the Hutt Valley branch lines, as at present.

Under the rearrangement, the positions of district traffic manager and district engineer at Wanganui, as well as those of their responsible officers, will be raised in status to correspond with similar positions in other principal districts. In order to simplify train control wagon supply, and local train arrangements between Okahukura Junction and Marton Junction (143 miles), and to relieve district headquarters at Auckland and Wanganui of as much detail as possible, it is intended to utilise portion of the existing organisation at Ohakune for this work. Similarly, the existing organisation at Frankton Junction will be used as far as possible to cater for the requirements of the area between Frankton and Okahukura. CHANGES IN STAFF Some strengthening of the personnel on the head office administration side, taking account of present and future requirements, has been decided upon. These changes are consequent upon: First, the staff economies, which were of necessity effected during the worst period of the depression; secondly, subsequent improvement in traffic generally; thirdly, the considerable volume of work involved in meeting keener competitive conditions and preparing data for submission to, and taking cases before, the various transport licensing authorities throughout the Dominion, and also, when necessary, by way of appeal before the Transport Co-ordination Board. These circumstances have undoubtedly increased the burdens of the board's chief executive officers, and the board has therefore decided to make the following changes and restore the following positions:—

Mr G. T. Wilson, district traffic manager at Auckland, has been promoted to this position with headquarters at Wellington, and with the duties and responsibilities previously appertaining to this office.

Staff superintendent and general inspector: Mr A. Urquhart, the present staff superintendent, has been promoted to this position, which will include more frequent visits of investigation and inspection to see that the staffs in the various districts and branches of the service are organised and worked to the best advantage, and in accordance with the established standards.

Mr F. K. Mackay, chief clerk of the commercial branch, is appointed chief clerk at head office.

Mr A. L. Smith, goods clerk at Christchurch, is appointed chief clerk of the commercial branch. Mr A. J. Levick, chief clerk at Ohakune Junction, is appointed assistant staff superintendent. A personal clerk, with head office administration experience, and familiar with the policy of the board, is to be attached to the general manager, and the position of assistant law officer is to be revived. District staff changes are: Mr H. C. Couch, district traffic manager at Wanganui, is promoted to district traffic manager at Auckland; Mr W. P. Miller, district traffic manager at Ohakune, is promoted to district traffic manager at Wanganui; Mr I. J. Howell, district engineer at Wanganui, is promoted to the same position in the enlarged Wanganui district; Mr A. H. Murison, district engineer at Ohakune, will in the meantime be attached to the chief engineer's staff, and engaged on special duties.