MANAGING THE RAILWAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17382, 10 November 1924, Page 11

MANAGING THE RAILWAYS.

BUSINESS MEN’S VIEWS. DEPUTATIONS TO COMMISSIONERS. Sir Sam Fav and Sir \ incent Raven, the English railway experts, who have been appointed a Commission to inquire into, and report upon the railway system of New Zealand, yesterday morning received deputations representing the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and the ('anterbury Progress League. Messrs W. Machin (president/. Norton Francis (vice-president) and Stronach Paterson (past president). were present on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr P. R. Climie, organiser for the Progress League, was present on behalf of the league. Others present were Messrs R. A\ . M’Villy, General Manager of Railways. F. J. Jones, Chief Engineer. E. E. Gillon, C hief Mechanical Engineer, II J. Wynne, Chief Signal and Electrical Engineer, 11. Chapman. District Traffic i Manager, and A. J. M’Credie, District : Engineer, also Mr F. W. Furkert, Engi-ueer-in-Chicf of the Public W orks Department and Messrs Warren Ring, S. E. Fay, and C. Travis, secretaries to the Commissioners. RAILWAY At: COL X T S. Mr Machin said that the statement which had been prepared by a subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce and which had been forwarded to the commissioners set out the view's of the chamber on the matters it wished to bring to their notice. lie was quite willing to amplify it. in any direction the commissioners wished. Sir Sam Fay said that the first point in the statement was that the railways should be credited with the work they did and that other departments of the Government should not receive the benefits of the railway service at less than cost and in some cases at no charge at all. INIr Machin : We say that if other departments receive benefits they should be prepared to be debited with the cost of those services and that the railways should be credited with these amounts in their financial returns. Sir Sam Fay: You mean that in effect the accounts to-day do not disclose the real position? Mr Machin said that various local bodies received cuts on the tariff, the agricultural community received concessions and various concessions were made for political reasons. The chamber did not question the right of the Department to make these concessions but the position was that it was rendering services for which it was not credited. Sir Sam Fay remarked that there was the point that the railways were not charged the actual rate of interest which the Government was paying on the money raised for their construction. Mr Machin replied that that was a matter of Government policy. In replv to Sir Vincent Raven Mr Machin said that it was desirable that the citizens should know the actual financial position of the railways. Furthermore, if the Department were credited with all the services it rendered, the chamber felt that a commercial spirit would be encouraged among the officials. MOTOR OMXIBUS COMPETITIOX. Regarding passenger traffic and the ; loss to the trains through the o> m- \ petition of motor services Sir Sam Fay asked if Mr Machin thought it possible for the railways to get that traffic back over the shorter distance, up to, say. forty miles. Mr .Machin replied that that was a very difficult matter. They ail knew that the railways were losing traffic and whether they got it back would be a matter of experience. In regard to the cost of running cars the experience of certain firms with fleets of thirty cars and upwards was that one make of car could be run at a cost of 3?d a mile, including interest on capital cost and all expenses. Another make of car cost <>d a mile. The difference between the cost of travelling by motor and by rail was now getting so close that certain business men preferred the motor-car. Sir Vincent Raven: Does the cost in elude a driver.' Mr Machin: No; wo drive ourselves. Replying to questions by Sir Sam Fay. Mr Machin said that the chamber was satisfied with the existing summer express service between Christchurch and Dunedin. Ho considered that facilities for the purchase of tickets, reservation of seats, etc., should be much extended. Something in this connection had already been done in Christchurch. He considered that the railways could successfully compete with sea-borne traffic from "Wellington to the West Coast. Sir Sam Fa v : Do you suggest reductions. in the rates and improved services? Mr Machin replied that he did not necessarily suggest reductions in the rab-y but an entire revision of the rates. The Railway Department could introduce competitive rates in some (rases and in other cases tho rates might be increased. PRK V Ell EX'l" LAD TARIFF*. Sir Sam Lay remarked that it would be rather difficult to introduce rates that did not apply to other lines. Mr Machin said he knew it was dif--1 1 iieult, but the railways had now had j some preferential rates in operation. "Where special conditions existed and | the railways could increase their traffic j by giving* preferential rates ho would ! suggest it bo done in those cases only. Tin* whole point of the cham- | ber’s contention was that the ! matter should he regarded on its merits. He understood that a revised classification ot goods and new rates had been prepared, and that merchants regarded them as satisfactory. The entrance of the motor-lorry into the field had been very detrimental to the jailways. Sir Sain Fay: You think it would he better to have co-operation with the motor-lorry owners rather than to actively compete with them? Mr .Machin replied that that was so. Referring to the views contained in the chamber’s statement regarding the discretionary powers of district officials. Sir Sam Fay said lie took it that tho chamber recognised the necessity of centralisation of principles but wanted decentralisation of details Mr Machin : Important details. Sir Sam Fay: "Would i£ help you if 1 an assistant general manager or divi- ; bionai officer were stationed in Christ- ! church with control of the whole of the railways in the South Island? Mr Machin: Yes; very much, indeed. In regard to regulations Mr Machin suggested that if the regulations took cognisance of people’s habits and the necessities of the present-day it would ba much better. He quoted instances in which the regulations had been enforced against the interests of the railways and of the public. THE LYTTELTON TUNNEL. Mr Machin said that all the chamber desired to suggest to the conimis-

si oners in regard to the Lyttelton, tunnel was that it would bo glad if the term of six vears allowed for the construction of the net/ tunnel would be compressed ®kr Sam* Fay r I see you arc asking for electrification. Mr Machin: That matter has been discussed, and we believe the Minister will carry it out if he finds it feasible. Sir Sam Fay: The object is to get rid of the unfortunate atmosphere which is caused bv steam traction ? Mr Machin said he understood that if the present tunnel could be electrified it would not be necessary to duplicate it, but they had been told by railway authorities that it would be impossible to electrify the tunnel without duplicating it. The commercial community felt- that if the present tunnel could be electrified without duplication that would meet all their difficulties. Sir Vincent Raven remarked that electrification did nor necessarily imply duplication. Regarding the carriage of live stock, Mr Machin said delays occurred very often. Sir Sam Fay: Is it a question, of provision of trucks or faster train services? Mr Machin: Provision of trucks mainly. Mr Machin remarked that the railways had lost much of the cattle traffic to the freezing works and it was extraordinary that xhe Department had not even inquired into the reasons why the traffic had been lost. He also stated that in many cases stock trucks were not kept properly clean, and it was inadvisable to carry stud and store animals in the dirty- trucks in which freezer stock had been carried without subse-

quent cleaning. TRAFFIC TO WEST COAST. Mr Stronach Paterson supported Mr Machin’s remarks regarding the necessity for preferential rates between Christchurch and the West Coast. Sir Sam Fay: It is quite possible iuiat when we got over to. the West Coast we might be met with objections to granting such facilities. Mr Paterson replied that he believed the Commissioners would be met- with objections from those who had shipping j interests. I he members of the chant- ! her. however, tried to look at the mat- j ter as they would if the railways were run by a private company and they were shareholders and directors. Mr Norton Freni c*is said he did not think reductions in the freight alone would bring back the traffic that had been taken by tho lorries. It was r.ox only a matter of cost, but was also a matter of expediency. liis idea was that the railways should provide for a through rate from the farm to the store or ship’s side. Some of the private motor lorry contractors were afraid that legislation would be passed stopping them from cutting up the- roadways as they were doing at present, ami they thought that tinless they worked in with the railways they might ho put off the roads altogether. He 1 hought a system ot sub.contractors running from tho farms to the railways would meet tho position very well. PROGKEriS LKAUCE’s VIEW. .’ir Climie .said that the points Is - wished to bring forward had beer covered by the other speakers and he did not propose to take up the time of the Commissioners. In 1922 he cur lied out on behalf <o tho Canterbury Progress League a foniprehetisir o slavey of the transport services in Canterbury. and he was brought into touch with a large number of rnihvav users. He handed to the Commissioners copies of the report on transportation which he had prepared for the lc-ugir . hfr Olimie said be was particularly interested in the point raised by ,\ir Francis regarding the shifting of pro-du.-e from the farm-. The cost factor was not the only factor for consideration. From his observations he woub! say that- the cost of s-shs--port was not so much emphasised ns the convenience. Regarding passenger services, it was found iliac the ordinary mixed trains were not very popular with people travelling. Mr Climie also handed the Commi-i----sioncrs copies of the booklets issued by the Progress League dealing with the sdenie and industrial resources of Canterbury and Westland. Toe Commissioners expressed their thanks to the speakers and the meeting then, dispersed. TRIP 'THROUGH TUXXUL. ‘Sir Sam Fay and Sir Vincent Ha veil afterwards irarclle.l through the Lyttelton Tunnel in order that they might become personally acquainted with the present conditions ot the tunnel . lee 1 onmussioiiors. and pariv al l - leave at eight o'clock this morning by special train for the West Coast, 'an-i to-morrow they will visit the Franz Josef Glacier in South AVestiand. They afterwards return to Wellington via nostport and Nelson.