The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1919. RAILWAY CONTROL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16608, 4 December 1919, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1919. RAILWAY CONTROL.

■ Tiie Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has evolved a scheme for a belter system of construction, control, and management of railways. No one will deny that there is much room for improvement all round. New railways are often authorised when they should not he. There are too many new lines under construction at one time, leading to the locking up of capital during an unduly long period owing to lines being unfinished. Trains are in many cases run more to suit the department than the public. TVe cannot, of course, hope for perfection in any direction. Probably no railway ever was constructed and- managed without meeting with some criticism. In New Zealand years ago the management was in the ’ hands of a Board of. Commissioners, hut it proved no more satisfactoryless so in some respects—than Ministerial control with a general manager. But with three commissioners there was at least a chance that one might see the reasonableness of a request for a change in a service or for some concession, and this assured greater consideration. Under the present system if the general manager say's “No'’ to a request that is the end of it. How many times has New Plymouth preferred requests only to be told that “it can’t be done”! The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. proposes that the whole railway system of the. Dominion shall be placed under a National Board of Control, to he known us the Government Railway Board and to consist of duly accredited and capable business men, aided by experts as free as may be possible from political influence. Tins board, it is proposed, shall take over all existing railway's, both operating and in course of _ construction, and all existing railway' surveys, estimates, and records. It shall he responsible, it is suggested, to the Government and Parliament for the management, of railways, for recommendations as to railway construction, and for all construction authorised. This latter suggestion wall do away with the present often irksome system of traffic control by' tho Public Works Department on partly finished lines. The board, it is’-proposed, shall consist of the Minister of Railways and seven other members, one appointed by the Government, who shall be the chairman, two appointed by Parliament, one. representing commerce, manufacturers, and '’mining, one representing agricultural, pastoral, and farming interests, one representing labour, and one representing- tire employees. Provision is made for an electoral college to select the elected members, this college to consist of thirty-one persons chosen by seven different bodies or classes. Machinery is provided for these elections,’ which are to take place every three years. In matters of detail there may he improvements suggested, but the general idea seems to be good. The scheme will be submitted to the local Chamber of Commerce at the quarterly meeting on TTiday night and it is proposed to pass it on to the annual conference of the Associated Chambers in February next. It is a matter of very great importance and should receive the close consideration of the different bodies proposed to be entrusted with ' the task of selecting the electoral college, including the Farmers’ Union, Federation of Labour, and United Railway Service, There is something' to he said for single control, especially when prompt decisions have to be made, but the New Zealand Railway Department is too huge a business now to be virtually controlled by one man, whose decision is practically final as has so often been shown to the disadvantage of those who have urged some request and had it turned down without good reason being shown.

The cliief opposition to the one-man tram system undoubtedly comes from those who believe that the innovation would put a few conductors and motormen out of work. The objections from tho point of view of the danger and inconvenience involved have apparently not been supported by expert evidence. If the new system is introduced there will have to be more tram-cars and, as tho system is likely to be extended in the near future, it is probable that no reduction of staff need take place. But it would undoubtedly be a paying investment to pension off for life any men who might have to leave the service rather than abandon a scheme which promises considerable economy and a cheaper service. Unless wo can have low tares the tramway system is practically useless. The object of tramcars is to enable people to live in the suburbs where laud is cheaper than in the centre of the town and it is often held that with a good service tho working man can have a comfortably suburban house at no greater cost than if ho lived nearer his work in the centre of tho town on one of tho tjpiall sections which rating on unimproved value will necessitate. But il it costs a man with a family 10s or 15s a week in car fares to live in the suburbs he will bo compelled to live within easy walking distance of his work and the shops and schools. Thus, those who light the oneman car, assuming it is as efficient as evidence seems to prove, are really opposing tho best interests of the worker. Tho opposition to tho now" cars is general among tramway men because they fear that they may be thrown out of work if the cars are generally adopted, but the question is really one ol the interests of the whole public, especially of tho workers, against those of a small class, and in this case the public must count lirst. In any case tjie transition will bo very gradual and men who are dismissed will have their interests considered as carefully ns possible.

Our very good friend the Elthain Argus, always good tempered and courteous, thinks wo are unnecessarily alarmed lost the extreme Labour Party should h6ld the balance of power in the new House of .Representatives. Our contemporary is of opinion that the rank and file will count for more in the new Parliament than it has over done in the past, and that it will not work with the extreme Labourites in the House. •'Uho extremists,'’ its says, possibly, though not probably, may hold u sufficient balance of power to keep citner a -Massey Government or a Ward Government in or out of office, if the Re)tinners or the Liberals remain in different camps. But if such a condition should arise a.s the Bolsheviks holding the polilical balance, there would at onoo he a coalition effected between Uciormers and Liberals in order to deleat the common enemy. When strong Reformers like Messrs. Stewart, isyKes, Stalham. Parr, Anderson, Field, and others claim independence it is not that they are disloyal to Mr. Massey, but that they desire the necessary freedom to unite m opposition to what they deem an unworthy section of the House. The real position is that neither leader can hope to hold office by the sufferance of the. Labourites. If Sir Joseph Ward attempted to load the House relying upon tile support of the extreme elements his own followers would desert him and enlist under Mr. Massey’s banner. If ivlieu tlie House meets a vote of no-coufidouco in Mr. Massey should he proposed, the extremists, no doubt, would go into the lobby .rith Sir Joseph Ward, hut they would afterwards record their votes to turn him out it opportunity offered. Labour will not be satisfied with anything short of the Treasury benches, and the good sense of members on both sides of the House will prevent slicit « ca;i."ut.y. We look forward with confidence to the result of the ejections, feeling confident that, whichever of the two leaders of the big parties wins, a stable Government will be formed, irrespective rf the support 'of the extremists.’' Our conteroporniy may be right, but we think the country would bo wise in strengthening Mr. Massey as the most likely leader to prevent the extreme. Labourites being in the position to make or break Governments.