THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1924, Page 7

THE RAILWAYS.

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. NEW SCHEME ADOPTED. GENERAL MANAGER RETIRES. REPORT BY COMMISSION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister fqr Railways), when ?een to-day concerning tl e reorganisation of 'he management of the New Zealand railways, stated ;hat he had come to the conclusion some time ago on the retirement of Mr. R. W. McViHy (General Manager of Railways), a IwartOtf j»i3nagem< nt •consisting of tl provide the most satisfactory form of management to cope with existing railway problem®. This step, however, was held in abeyance owing to the decision of the Government to invite Sir Sam Fay and Sir Vincent Laven to inv etigate the system. Naturally the question c; management was one that occupied a prominent place in their order of reference

“The question of Mr. ?JcVilly’s retirement,” continued Mr. Coates, “was deferred at my request until the completion of the commissioners’ report. This ha® now been reerved by the Government, and Mr. McVilly’s active association with *he department terminated on Friday last. "Although full details of the report are not yet available for publication, I think it desirable to say that the commission had concurred in the proposal to constitute a railway board, consisting of three trained railwaymen, cajpable of bringing the New Zealand railways up to the average world standard of cheap and efficient transport. The matter ivas referred to Cabinet, which decided to accept Mr. McVilly’s resignation and form v a board on the lines originally proposed by me.

“So far only one to the board has been mace—that of Mr. J. Jones, who has been appointed chairman. Mr. Jones lias held the position c.f chief engineer since the retirement of Mr. McLean, and will carry on in his new capacity a® head of the department, pending the appointment of the two remaining members. I expect to mike further statements in this cmnecti.m in the course of a day or tw j. ’