THE SECOND CLASS ACCOMMODATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 29

THE SECOND CLASS ACCOMMODATION.

throughout the colony will be generally improved, and i have determined to provide second as well as first class lavatory accommodation on all trains outside the suburban areas. A start lias already been made in this direction, and will be vigorously pursued until completed. It ;s expected that this programme will lead to much now business, in addition to which we have to face the LARC4ELY INCREASED BUSINESS. I may tell you that, taking the rolling stock as it existed on the 31st March, 1895, as a basis, that we still require 20 large tender engines and 20 large tank engines— a total of 40 engines, — 3000 waggons, and 140 cars additional to what we now have, in order to cope satisfactorily with our existing- business-. I am pleased to be able to announce to you that the necessary steps have been taken to increase the rolling stock of our railways. The rapid development of the country and the consequent enormous expansion o£ our traffic renders it imperative that a large additional supply of trucks nra&t be provided without delay. Our workshops are in this respect doing all that is possible r and, much as I should like to see this class of work kept entirely in the colony, it is impossible, without great dislocation of traffic and an inconvenience to the producers of the country that the Government would not be waranted in allowing to continue, not to order a portion of our truck supply from outside the colony. In addition to this, tenders will be invited for the manufacture of some trucks from private shops within the colony. I hope by adopting this course to be able by January next to have largely overcome the difficulty that has, from the great growth of traffic, presented itself I for some time past. In this respect I may add that from a careful estimate made there is sufficient work ahead for our railway workshops to be kept going fully for the next four or five years, and as every year sees the opening of fresh railway lines and additional "raffle, there is no valid reason why at the and of that period this important branch of the railway service should not be more actively continued. It will be necessary at no distant date to considerably extend our workshops to enable them 'to cope with the increasing demands for rolling stock to meet the growing i equirements of the traffic, and in order to secure more efficient working and a better and more equitable use of the rolling stock it has been decided to place the control of distribution under a tiaffic superintendent in each island, and the district management is to be empowered to confer with settlers and locally to arrange for all possible facilities in the districts over which they preside. By adopting this system a very much better use should be got of the rolling stock upon the different sections of railways. Should the requirements of the traffic need it, the traffic superintendent having control of the rolling stock under his administration will be able to transfer temporarily from various districts trucks to relieve any congested traffic that may arise in another district. I feel confident that under theexperienced guidance of the traffic superintendent and the district traffic managers the best possible results will follow from this change, and that many of the troubles that have arisen in connection with trucks in the past will be overcome. I think it only right to say that from my personal observation, and from investigations from lime to time which my duty has compelled me to make, tho traffic branch has utilised available trucks to the best possible advantage, and have left nothing undone in endeavouring to cope with a growing traffic that at times was beyond the capacity of the rolling stock to quickly meet. CHANGES IN THE STAFF. T n connection with tho changes thst I have here indicated, the following alterations will be made amongst the chief officers of the Railway department :— Mr W. H. Gow will be traffic superintendent at Dunedin for the South Island, and Mr Arthur will proceed to Christclmrch to take up the position of traffic manager there. Mr A. Grant will be traffic superintendent at Wellington for the Norlh Island. Mr T. B. Donne will be traffic manager for Auckland section. Mr J. H. Fox will also be appointed to the position of brake engineer in charge of the Westinghouse brake. The traffic superintendents will require to meet the general manager and assisl-ant-general manager in Wellington every month or two — more frequently if necessary. They,, with the district traffic managers, will also" hold a conference every six months. These conferences are most valuable. It enables them to discuss the many matters^ that must necessarily arise from day to day in so great a service as the Railway department. It enables uniformity ot action and system, and will, I hope, tend to allay, as far as possible, any friction between the officers of the department and the public generally in the working of the service, which should be considerably improved throughout the colony. With the growth of traffic that has taken place and the ever-increasing use of the railway service for the conveyance of human beingd, I am deeply impressed with the grave responsibility placed on the shoulders of those entrusted with the administration and cairying on of the service, i and the necessity for doing all that is possible to provide for the conduct of the traffic in the safest manner possible. With this important object in view, it has been decided, on the principal main lines of the colony, to introduce the