RAILWAY CONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 10

RAILWAY CONTROL

BOARD CEASES TO FUNCTION DUTIES VOLUNTARILY RELINQUISHED (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, March 7. The Minister of Railways, Mr D. Gr. Sullivan, stated to-day that although the Railways Board will legally remain in existence until the legislation providing for its abolition is passed by Parliament it has already ceased to function. A Bill which would have the effect ot abolishing the board and vesting the, full control of the railways in the Minister had already been prepared, Mr Sullivan said, and would be introduced early in the session. Until the Bill became law, however everything had still to be done in the name of the board, but the members had voluntarily approached him and offered their full co-operation by ceasing to function as a board. The Minister said that the members ot the board had met him very fairly in the matter stating that they fully recOKnised that Ministerial control of the Kailwavs Department was a definite part ot the Government's policy and they had no desire to place any obstacles in the way ot that policy being carried out In tlie meantime the general manager (Mr ix.tx. Macklcv) was acting as the controlling 1-ead iii full consultation with himself as Minister. .