THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12469, 20 February 1909, Page 3

THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

— . ♦ - — -:. . • i [United Pbess Association. 1 . . . "... Dunedin, Feb 19. ] The Hon J. A. Millar was tendered , a public reception in __ the Garrison ] Hall to-night in honour of his . ap- , pointment to the position of Minister \ of Railways. - There was an excep- . tionally large attendance and the pro- ' ceedings; were .very enthusiastic. \ Speeches 'of a highly complimentary . nature were made by the" Hon Dr Find- ' lay, Hon T. Mackenzie, Hon: J. T. '■ Paul, the Mayor (Mr McDonald), Mr , Witty, M.P., Mr Davey, M.P., Mr J. j F. Woodhouse, and Mr D. McPher- j son. ■ . ■•■-..-■ '. ;. . ■£ .;■ ,■'■■ :, . .In ; the course of his reply the Hon; . J. A.' Millar said he hoped to make. ' the railways pay interest without any . reduction in the services, but if/, he found a* service that had been running j for a period of years at a loss.'-Vhe' ', would Reduce the service to meet"'the , apparent wants of the people. By • this means, and by the utilisation of ■ the Manawatu line in place of the j Rimutaka incline, he hoped to j be' able , to effect an enormous saving in the , working expenses. If the time came when -it would be necessary to raise ( the charge's he would not be afraid to say so from every platform in • -the , Dominion, but as far as he saw there j was no, necessity for that at present. , If it became necessary to make retrenchments in regard to the staff he would do it, although it would be paiii- : , ful to him to have to do so. .' „ j : '■'-■■ -"-"- ■"'"-' '■■')■■ : ■■S£r : i