N.S.W. RAILWAYS

Southland Times, Issue 21897, 24 December 1932, Page 5

N.S.W. RAILWAYS

NEW CHIEF COMMISSIONER. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 11.5 p.m.) Sydney, December 23. Mr T. J. Hartigan has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Railways in succession to Mr Cleary, who recently resigned. Mr Hartigan was formerly Financial Commissioner of Railways. The reasons for the resignation of Mr W. J. Cleary, Acting Chiew Transport Commissioner for New South Wales, have been divulged by the Premier, Mr Stevens. They were contained in a letter which was sent to the Premier by Mr Cleary. The letter is as follows: — “Dear Mr Stevens,—ln view of certain incorrect and unauthorized Press statements as to the alleged causes of my resignation, I think I should state as simply as possible, for your own information, as well as for publication, the reasons which influenced, me in taking this step. After my office as Chief Commissioner for Railways was abolished in March, last, far-reaching changes were made in the personnel of the administration and senior staff by the Lang Government and its Transport Board. I am satisfied after four months’ experience since my return to office, that these changes have demoralized the organization, and this condition has been accentuated by recent threats in Parliament to reverse appointments wherever opportunity may arise. I have endeavoured to allay these fears, but the staff are too much ‘on edge’ to settle down. This demoralization is not merely observable; it is bearing fruit in the lower branches of the service, and has put its paralysing touch on the discipline and efficiency of most of the departments. The results may be read in the expenditure figures.”

“While I realize —probably more than anyone—the danger of further changes, I am convinced that nothing short of a most drastic reorganization, first of the senior staff and then of the lower grades, will put the service into proper working order. Without such changes I would not attempt to carry on; but if I were to make the changes it would be impossible to escape the suggestion of vindictiveness, because of railway history, which is too vivid and recent to be ignored. I believe that whatever reorganization may be undertaken will have more chance of permanency if made by someone who is not hampered by such personal associations with the men concerned as I have had. While I remain—and especially if I reverse past appointments —the political issues that have overshadowed the department will apparently be kept alive by those with whom I justifiably came in conflict in my attempt to cleanse the service. My inclinations are to stay and fight, but my concern for the welfare of a great public undertaking impels me to retire from the field and give the Government and a new administration an opportunity to start afresh, free to follow such transport policy as the Government may decide upon, without the handicap of the complications arising from my unfortunate experiences “It may be said that I am running away but I hope it will be remembered that I stood my ground when conditions were unspeakable and no relief in sight. I came in, under persuasion from Mr Bavin and yourself, disinterestedly. After three years I leave the service, voluntarily, and again disinterestedly. In spite of the frustration of my efforts and the undoing of much of my work, I believe these years are not without their lessons for those who would learn, and not the least striking of these lessons is that almost irreparable damage can be done to a great organization when it is made a plaything of politics. I am grateful to yourself and the Minister of Transport, Colonel Bruxner, for your courtesy and assistance, and especially for the compliment implied in your selection of me for this job. I hope this letter will leave my action open to a better interpretation than that lam ungenerously ‘leaving you in the lurch.’ ”