The Rangitikei advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1920 CONTROL OF THE RAILWAYS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12016, 19 March 1920, Page 4

The Rangitikei advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1920 CONTROL OF THE RAILWAYS.

IT is doubtful whether any system of managing our groat transport and transit service will ever be entirely satisfactory to all concerned. For many years our lines were controlled by politicians, and of course the baneful effects of party were felt in the arrangement of services a ud adjustment of charges to please the majority—or to influence the most votes, which means the same thing. Previously the great design of the originator of our railway system, Sir Julius Vogel, had been warped out of recognition and the boneflts of the scheme lessened construction of political lines , leading to nowhere, and the diversion of main lines by tortuous ways to enhance the value of the properties of wealthy and influential .supporters. Then, when the politicians found that the supporters were becoming too importunate, and too unreasonable in their demands, and their own positions were becoming endangered, they hit upon the plan of creating a buffer between them and their supporters, A General Manager was imported for fcbis purpose, and during his occupancy of the position he received a princely salary. But the people continued to murmur, and no satisfaction was given. Then the present sj-atem was adopted, and now it is the Minister for Railways -yvlio is usually blamed for any trouble. There are also still more numerous complaints as to the methods of management, and the position is being complicated by the demands of the railwayman for increased pay, and the impossibility of granting their demands without increasing the cost of the services to the public. We are, therefore, not surprised to notice that a movement has begun in favour of placing the railways under a National Board of Control. This idea has been voiced by the Chambers of Commerce, but we have a shrewd suspicion that it originated in the mind of some harassed politician. A remit recently discussed at the annual assembly of the gentlemen who claim to s be specially interested in commerce!, alleged; “The United chambers of Commerce and other bodies in this Dominion having considered the question of the control and management of the. State-owned railways, are of the opinion that tho present organisation and control of our ways system is unbusinesslike, wasteful, and financially unsound, and that capable and responsible officers are frequently hinderpd in their work by political considerations. It is therefore determined to recommend to the Government and to tho people of this Dominion that the State railways, being a huge business enterprise, and not a political organisation, should be placed under a National Board of Control, to be j known us the New.'Zealand Govern- I ment Railway Board, consisting of j duly accredited and capable business j men, aidetj. by experts as free, as may be possible from political influence. ” j The success of such a plan would,

of course, entirely depend on the | selection of the managers. It would not be sufficient that they were shrewd business men, who would ’ run the railways at a profit, for profit was not the chief end in view when tho taxpayers agreed to borrow millions wherewith to construct the railways. The chief object was to open up the country, providing easier access from the seaports to every part of it—an object by the way which has not been half a«n complished yet, and one to which the profits on existing lines should haye been exclusively devoted. In our opinion the people are likely to get the beet results under the present system, especially if the Minister is made still more responsible and has fewer buffers between himself and the users, or the people who elect representatives to Parliament. There is some chance now of the original intention of our railway construction being kept in view; there would be none if business men were merely running the lines for profit. '