RAILWAY EFFICIENCY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 714, 13 July 1929, Page 14

RAILWAY EFFICIENCY

MR. TAVERNER MAKES COMPARISONS TWO ADMINISTRATIONS XT HE SUN'S Parliamentary Re-porter) PARLIAMENT ELDGS., Friday. A reply to the criticisms made about the late running of trains was made in the House of Representatives today by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. B. Taverner. He also answered questions as to the banking up of engine repairs at workshops. The Minister recalled that the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. J. G. Coates, had said the new Minister was not keeping up to the standard set by his predecessors. It was interesting to examine the position as revealed by the department’s figures. The Minister said that he had had figures taken out showing the average late-running of the mail and express trains from 1924 onward. The average number of minutes late daily for each year was:—l927, 3.51; 1925, 3.64; 1926, 5.54; 1927, 5.94; 1928, 6.22; 1929, $.65. “My predecessor, Mr. Coates, had a radical revision of passenger train services made in 1925,’’ said Mr. Taverner. “It will be seen that, from that time onward, there has been a steady increase in average train delay figures. The increase in 1929 over 192 S was .43 minutes, showing quite conclusively that during the last year, during portion of which I have been in office, the increase in the late train figure has been less than the average for the four previous years, since the speeds up of the time-table in 1925. I submit, with confidence, therefore, that on tlie figures themselves, there is no justification for any suggestion that the present Administration suffers by comparison with its predecessors, when we consider the factors operating on the running of trains. RECORD TRAFFIC “Since tho last Administration went out oi office, we lind the position is still more satisfactory. We have, during the last few months, gone through a record period of traffic. The lines have been loaded to an extent that has never previously occurred. For the first five months of 1925 the total train mileage was 4.650.677. which grew to 5,240,995 in the first five months of 1928, and to 5,545,457 in the first five months of this year. It will be seen that, for the period during which tho present Administration has been operating, there has been an increase of more than 300,000 miles. Such an increase in intensity of traffic must inevitably have an effect on the running of trains, more particularly where the proportion of single-line working is os large as it is on our system.” “The system has been carrying this record volume of business actually with a smaller number of locomotives than was the case in 192 C, and with only five more than we had in 1925. The number in 1925 was C 62, in 1926 *704 in 1927 698. in 1928 678, and in 1929 667. ENGINE FAILURES “A further material circumstance is that connected with workshop reorganisation. This inevitably resulted in the slowing up of repair work, and, particularly in the Sout Island, resulted in a fairly substantial accumulation of arrears. Notwithstanding these circumstances we have quite a good showing so far as the failures of engines are concerned. Absolute failures in 1927 were 144, in 192 S 184 and in 1929 159. The absolute failures refer to cases where the engine was unable to proceed further with the train, and had to be replaced. All arrears of repairs will be overtaken before next busy season sets in, and I am justified in saying that the present position may be regarded as a passing phase. “I do not desire it to be inferred that we are satisfied to rest on our oars. We aim to improve the standard, and definite steps have already been initiated in that direction. Already some of the train schedules have been brought under review. Such circumstances as the acceleration of trains to meet the needs of the 1925 schedule, and the pooling of engines, which has been rendered necessary by the economic conditions of industry, have, in my opinion, called for a more intensive degree of engine examination at depots, and organisation is being provided to enable that to be done. I am also of the opinion that the controlling officers, especially on the locomotive side, should have more opportunity for intimate contact with the actual working of the engines, and to that end the office organisation is being rearranged with a view to giving them a greater measure of relief from office duties so as to enable them to give more time to work on the road.” Paying tribute to the operating staff of the department, the Minister said that its record of over three years with 50,000,000 passengers carried without a fatality gave direct evidence of the conscientiousness and vigilance of all concerned.