RAILWAY CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1924, Page 7

RAILWAY CHARGES.

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT.

SECOND APPOINTMENT MADE. SUPERrNTENDENT IN EACH ISLAND OPERATION FROM APRIL 1. . By Telegraphs—Press Association. Wellington, Last -Night. The Hom -L G. Coates (Miin«ster for Railways) made a further statement tonight with regard to the reorganisation of the Railway Department. “The formation of a board of management has already been announced,” said Mr. Coates, “but- that will not result in any departure from the principle contained in the Government Railways Act, which-places the control of the railways and the department entirely in the hands of the Minister. Meantime, the hoard’s powers will be similarsto thotie held by the general manager and his assistants, but the results aimed at are decentralisation and the delegation of resiponsibilities and duties. “Briefly, the managerial department is now vested in a board of tjjree members instead of being entirely in tlie hands of one general manager. The whole of the correspondence dealing with , details of the department’s activities in various districts will be dealt with by other controlling officers'. Mr. Janies Mason, - who has held the position of first assistant general manager since January last, has now been selected to fill one of the two remaining positions on the board. No definite decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the third position, but arrangements have been made to carry on temporarily by the appointment of an acting .member. “It has also been decided as part of the general decentralisation scheme to appoint two general superintendents, one for the North Island and one, for the South Island, responsible directly to the board for the operation of commercial matters and maintenance within 'each island. The office'fs to' fill these positions will be selected in’’the course of a few days. My object in giving effect to these changes now is to enable the complete reorganisation to be working smoothly and be brought into otperation as from the eommencement of the financial year on April 1 next. “So far as the report of the commission is concerned,” added the Minister, “although, I have had definite proposals in regard to. many recommendations for some time, I do not propose to make a full statement of policy with regard to any .matters dealt with until. such time as the cpmplete repprt is released for publication.”