ADVICE OF COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1930, Page 9

ADVICE OF COMMISSION

STAFFING AND ECONOMICS AND WRITING OFF ; Wellington, Last Night. Among the commission’s more important . recommendations are the following:— That the existing departmental organI isation with two divisional superintcnd- ! ents super-imposed thereon be abolished and full divisional control instituted, the chief engineer of . the maintenance-branch and the chief mechanical engineer of the locomotive branch to retain full responsi-

.jibility for the maintenance, pi the track, ktructureA-. and;, Tiuildihg.s aqd ©f locomotives, rolling stock and workshops .respectively. , That the rates for passenger traffic be increased, concession fares increased and rates on certain goods freight increased. That higher:, charges be made for handlingmails. That unless arrangements cap be definitely, made to ensure that the Railway Magazine can be printed and distributed free of cost to the department it be disppntinued. That the advertising. branch be thoroughly re-organised And placed under the control of a competent and experienced That a close investigation be made of the whole staffing arrangements in all branches and the personnel be reduced Co a minimum, and that the regulations 'be reviewed and as far as practicably brought ipto line.. with, the - economic needs afiit'cifhiiinstances now prevailing. . That the . grading of positions be abolished’ aiid promotions be made solely on merit, efficiency and suitability for the positions to be filled. j That the appeal board be reconstituted and that the final decision in all cases “be with the Minister or other authority on, whom for th©.time,being rests the ■ “■ burden of responsibility for the efficiency il; .of the service and the safety of the .. -public. - , , ? CONTROL OF THE STAFF. ?’ That the permanent head of the department be invested with' full powers - effectively to control the staff and autli,l ority to appoint, promote and discipline. - ■ 7’hat in connection with the maintenl ance costs of the permanent way £he i works and signals staffing be reducefi by . disposing of all surplus labour. / That a general reserve fund bf £2,000,~000 b© built up by setting aside £1,000,"000 out of th© revenue of the department, and for that purpose Charging co the working expenses a fixed sum not exceeding £200,000 in any one year and crediting this to the general reserve ac- - count annually. That a further £1,900,000 of the capital account be written down.

That in respect of railway and road combined bridges the present arrange- ■ ments ar© not satisfactory. The Rail- ; way Department should receive from the ; local bodies an additional sum of £11,193 annually through the Main Highways Board.

That legislative authority should be given to enable an equitable charge to be made on the basis of tallies of traffic for determining what additional further sum. the railways are entitled, to receive in respect of interest, depreciation and maintenance charges on these main structures. That care be taken not to carry the system of pooling engines beyond a limit within which economic results are combined with efficiency. ' ; . That the system »f, costing in the workshops be rebrganised.to show, more accurately -the '-’cost of the work done aiid more equitably distribute the overdiead rating for each department. 5 That a chief mechanical engineer be appointed immediately and macle responsible for the running and maintenance of all locomotives and rolling stock and the workshops, and th 6 establishment /of a loeojnotive branch. That tde staffing arrangements be reand the. costs<reduced. / TIE VIEW OF THE SERVICES... That a comprehensive review of the train services on' all lines be made and 'the train mileage reduced to thp minimum required \ to provide a reasonable service fcr the 'business to be catered for. Trains-running at a loss should be

discontinued and goods trains be loaded to' the full capacity.' That .in respect of each line a careful review of operating results be made each period, and any line which fails to pay operating costs for a. period of three months be closed. That rpad and rail traffic be co-ordin-ated, legislation to be enacted to provide for the establishment of a suitable authority to make for the license, control and regulation of motor transport throughout the Dominion. That as new lines are constructed for the purpose of developing settlement or assisting industries they should be regarded as “developmental lines” and a, full and accurate account of all the costs and earnings should be- kept altogether apart from the general railways account, and any losses should be. met out of the .Consolidated Fund.. .

That the department be depolitioaiised and the railways be administered by a board of directors with full powers to control the operations and staff and be responsible for the results obtained.