The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1913. THE RAILWAYS MANAGER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 282, 21 April 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1913. THE RAILWAYS MANAGER.

The Government has made an appointment to the position of General Manager of Railways. There seems to have been no dearth of material from which to make the selection for we were told by a telegram on Saturday that there were 82 applicants from all parts of the British Empire. The successful applicant, Mr. Ernest llilcy, now holds the position of divisional goods manager at Newcastle for the North-Eastern Railway Company in England, and, according to the Prime Minister, his record is a particularly good one. He' is saiil to have had extensive experience of the working of big systems at Home, though he is but forty-three years of age. It is to be hoped that the appointment will turn out successfully. Ours is by no means an easy system to run. It is altogether different from the systems of England, America and most other countries. Our railways lire straggled over a comparatively big extent of country, but the population served is small. The narrowness of the gauge, the severe gradients, and the physical difficulties of the country through which the lines run all make the work of running the system difficult. The new manager will have plenty of scope for the display of his ability. We all know that the best results are not being obtained from the railways at present, a lack of co-ordination, system and" enterprise being shown on every hand. We have not to go outside of Taranaki for evidence of this. We believe the new manager cannot do worse than is being done at present. If he is worth his salt lie will run the railways on business lines, re-organise the system from top to bottom, and exhibit what the present management have never shown—a disposition not only to meet but to anticipate public requirements. He will also not allow his course to be deflected by' the political influence that has cursed, past management. Jf this great public service can be put outside of political influence, we expect to see considerable improvements effected. And much will depend upon the character aiid strength of mind of the new manager.