CHANGES IN RAILWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1935, Page 9

CHANGES IN RAILWAYS

BETTER ORGANISATION / ' ————— HEAD OFFICE STAFF INCREASED. i ' SLIGHT SAVING TO BE EFFECTED IMPROVED MODERN FACILITIES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, May 10. Mr. G. H. Mackley, general manager of railways, made an announcement today on behalf of the Railway’s Board regarding important decisions affecting the general organisation of the Department. “The financial result of all the changes indicated,” said Mr. Mackley, “is estimated to be a net saving of £2200 per annum.” There are four principal North Island railway districts at present—Auckland, Ohakune. Wanganui and Wellington. Consideration has been given on dif-. ferent occasions to the question of abolishing the Ohakune district and absorbing portion in Auckland and the balance in the Wanganui district. The proposition was a prominent feature of the Fay-Raven Commission’s report, but was not given effect to because at the time and since the Department’s communications were not Such as would permit of satisfactory and efficient control being exercised from the more remote headquarters at Auckland and Wanganui in the event of a serious breakdown in the Ohakune district.

“Recently, however, the last link in the scheme of improved telephone communication between Wellington and Auckland had been completed and traincontrol facilities have been installed and are operating successfully. Cuttings and fillings en route, which in the earlier history of the main trunk line were a source of anxiety, give little trouble to-day. The district headquarters at Ohakune Junction were never justified from a purely commercial or Jmsiness point of view, but were established on the opening of the line solely on account of train running and transport considerations.

"The board has decided to abolish the district headquarters at Ohakune as soon as is reasonably practicable. The boundaries of the North Island traffic and maintenance districts will then be readjusted as follows: Northern, or Auckland, district, will include all lines north of 1 but not including Okahukura Junction and all. lines radiating east from Frankton Junction. The middle, or Wanganui district, will include all lines, south of and including Okahukura Junction north of but not including Palmerston North, and all lines radiating west from Marton. The southern, or Wellington district, will include all lines from Wellington to Napier' via the ManaWatu and Wairarapa, and including Palmerston North, also the Fdxton, Greytown, Port Ahuriri and Hutt Valley branch lines aS at present. WANGANUI’S HIGHER STATUS: “Under the rearrangement the positions of district traffic manager and district engineer at Wanganui, as well as those of their responsible officers, will be raised in status to correspond with similar positions in the other principal districts. “In order to simplify train-control, waggon supply and local train arrangements between Okahukura Junction and Marton. Junction (143 miles),' and relieve the district headquarters at Auckland and Wanganui of as much detail as possible, it is intended, to utilise portion of the existing organisation at Ohakune Junction for this work. Similarly, the existing , organisation at Frankton will be used as far as possible to cater for the requirements of the area between Frankton and Okahukura. Some strength • ening of the personnel on the Head Office administration side, taking account of the present and future requirements, has been decided upon. “These changes' are consequent upon, firstly, the staff economies which were of necessity effected during the worst period of the depression; secondly, the subsequent improvement in traffic generally; and, thirdly, the considerable volume of work involved in meeting keener competitive conditions and preparing data for submission to and taking cases before various transport licensing authorities throughout the Dominion and also when necessary by of appeal before the Transport Co-ordination Board.”

These circumstances had undoubtedly' increased the burdens of the board’s chief executive officers, said Mr. Mackley,. and the board had therefore decided to make the following " changes and restore the following positions:— STAFF Transport superintendent: . Mr. G. T. Wilson, district traffic manager at Auckland, has been promoted to this position with headquarters in Wellington and with the duties and responsibilities previously appertaining to this office. Staff superintendent and general inspector: Mr. A. Urquhart, the present staff superintendent, has been promoted to this position, which will include more frequent visits of investigation and inspection in order to see that the staffs in the various districts and branches of the service are organised and worked to the best advantage and in accordance with established standards. Mr. F. K. Mackay, chief clerk in the commercial branch, is appointed chief clerk in the head office. Mr. A. L. Smith, goods clerk, Christchurch, is appointed chief clerk of the commercial branch. Mr. A. J. Levick, chief clerk, Ohakune Junction, is appointed assistant chief superintendent. A personal clerk with head office administration experience and familiar with the policy of the board is to be attached to the general manager, and the position of assistant law officer is to be revived. District staff changes are: Mr. H. C. Couch, district traffic manager at Wanganui, is promoted to district traffic manager, Auckland; Mr. ,W. P. Miller, district traffic manager, Ohakune, is promoted to district traffic manager, Wanganui; Mr. I. J. Howell, district engineer, Wanganui, is promoted to the same position in the enlarged Wanganui district; Mr. A. H. Murison, district engineer, Ohakune, will in the meantime be attached to the chief engineer’s staff and will be engaged on special duties.