CONTROL OF RAILWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1930, Page 11

CONTROL OF RAILWAYS

REMOVAL FROM POLITICS

SUPPORT FROM WELLINGTON.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 15. Unanimous approval of the principle that , the railways should be removed from political'control-was expressed at a meeting; of .the council Of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. A telegram was. received from thePalmerston North Chamber seeking support for a request that the Govern*ment should give effect, to the recommendation of the Railways Commission that the management of-the’department be transferred to persons not subject to political influence. , . The chairman, Mr, D- J. McGowan, said the chamber ,had long advocated the removal of the railways from poetical control.' J Mr. A. J? Curtis said he doubted whether a board would improve the running of the trains. The chairman: “Our-point is to take them out of political control.” ■ Mr. Curtis: “What would the general manager do then?” The chairman: “I don’t know. The principle is the thing. The railways should be taken out of political control?’ '

Mr. Curtis: “I agree, but I don’t think the appointment of a board would solve the problem.” . - The chairman-.’ “It would be a -step in the right direction.” Mr. Curtis-: “Do you think a board of control could turn the deficit into a profit?” . . “No, but it might save some of the losses being Inade at the present time, replied the chairman. ' It. had been proposed, for instance, to ,i push on with ?' a line which, when completed; would show a yearly loss of about £37,000.. , Would any business man stand for that sort of thing! - Mr. Qurtis,: “They are supposed to. have a very able man now, and can’t he do anything' to stop that? Hasn’t he power?’< - , - The chairman: “We understood when, he was appointed that' he would have ’it.” .: \ It was . unanimously decided to support the principle that the railways be removed from political control.