RAILWAY CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1931, Page 10

RAILWAY CONTROL

THE DIVISIONAL SYSTEM. BRANCH METHOD RESTORED. As a further measure of economy in the Railway Department, the Government has decided to abolish divisional control of transport in each island, and to revert to branch control. The office of the divisional superintendent for the North Island, situated at Auckland, is being closed, and in future the district traffic managers at Auckland, Ohakune, Wanganui and Wellington will be responsible to the general manager’s office direct. Mr. E. Casey, who lias been divisional superintendent since the system was introduced in 1925, will have his headquarters in Auckland for some weeks more in order to clear up a number of matters connected with the reorganisation. The post to which he is to be transferred has not been announced, but it is possible that he will be appointed either assistant general manager, in succession to Air. Al. Dennehy, or chief engineer, in place of Air. F. C. Widdop, both of these officers being due to retire shortly. The divisional superintendent for the 'South Island, Air. R. S. Kent( retired a few weeks ago, and his position ha* not been filled.

The divisional system of control was introduced upon the recommendation of the Fay-Raven Commission, which suggested it as a means of decentralisation. Previously traffic had been directed by nine district managers, responsible to a chief traffic manager in Wellington, and the district civil and mechanical engineers worked directly under the chiefs of their respective branches at headquarters. Under the altered system, which was 'based on that used in South Africa and various other countries, a divisional superintendent was appointed in each island to control and direct all transport work, including the running of trains, the handling of goods and passengers, the improvement of services, maintenance of track, structures and appliances, and allocation, use and distribution of engines and rolling-stock, and generally to provide and control facilities for travel. As part of the scheme the district engineers were to report to and take instructions from the divisional superintendents regarding the maintenance and general upkeep of the tracks, but the chief engineer in Wellingt . and his inspecting engineers were held responsible for fixing the standard of maintenance and kindred matters, also for the initiation and carrying out of all major engineering work required for maintenance purposes. The divisional superintendents, although in charge of the running of locomotives and rollingr stock, were not vested with any control over the workshops where repairs were carried out.

Whether the old system ivill be restored in its entirety is not clear, seeing that the office of the chief traffic manager was abolished in the re-or-ganisation, and its functions were divided between the newly-created superintendent of transportation and the two divisional superintendents. It is to be presumed that son., changes will be made at the head office to meet the altered conditions. It is known that the district engineering officers will be controlled direct from Wellington in regard to all their work. As an outcome of the closing of the divisional office, the chief clerk, Mr. W. M. Cole, has been appointed actingstationmaster at Auckland, and Mr. A. S. Campbell, who was appointed stationmaster only three month’ ago, is to be transferred to the 'position of acting-district traffic manager at Wanganui, in succession to Mr. P. H. Hartland, who has retired.