The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1912. RAILWAYS.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 172, 17 December 1912, Page 2

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1912. RAILWAYS.

When the Reform Government took over the reins of power, the electors not unreasonably enter-

tained hopes that reform of every depaitmentof State would follow. More particularly did this apply to the Department of Railways. During the autocratic reign of Mr Millar (or should we not say one of his subordinates, who seems to be particularly gifted in the art of “ pocketing ” Ministers), when railway management, or rather mismanagement, was such a shocking bungle from beginning to end, but little hope was entertained for the improvement of the railway system, but with the advent of Mr Herries hopes were entertained for the speedy alleviation of at least some of the more glaring instances of mismanagement. Having regard to his short term of office and the shocking state of affairs when he assumed control, Mr Herries is to be congratulated upon much of the work he has done, but the management of the New Zealand railways still falls very far short of what it ought to be. The report of the engineer to the Waipa County Council, or at least that portion of it which reads: — Metalling: This work also has been delayed to some extent by weather, but much more through shortage of trucks and consequent failure in delivery of metal by rail. There does not, however* seem to be much prospect of improvement in the near future, and in the meantime the season is slipping past. The position is most unsatisfactory, as it now seems evident that nothing like the required quantity of metal will be delivered before the summer is over. Mr Young has been approached on the subject, and has promised to give all the assistance in his power towards bringing about an improvement,” is a very serious indictment of any State Department. The need of metalled roads in the Waikato is something more than a luxury —it is a very urgent and imperative necessity. That the works of the Waipa County Council should be delayed through the failure of Tie railways to land metal at required localities without unnecessary delay is a shocking state of affairs. The Hon. Minister has replied to representations formerly made by the Rangiaohia Road Board and the Waipa County Council, that the matter would receive his consideration. A reply of this nature in a matter that calls not for consideration but for immediate action savours too much of Mr. Miller’s oolicy of “taihoa.” Mr Herries and his party claim to stand for the development of the farrhing interests of the Dominion, yet we find that a matter of vital importance to Waikato affecting as it does the proper formation of county roads is left in abeyance awaiting “ consideration.” In the meantime the summer months are slipping by, and-another winter will still find Waikato with roads (?) of mud which, had it not been for the spirit of procrastination, neglect, and muddlement, which has so ruined the railways of New Zealand, would have been metalled. The matter is one of urgency, and we hope' will be treated as such by the Hon. Minister for Railways, so that his actions may accord with the expressed sentiments of his colleague, the Minister for Public Works, who on so many occasions has pledged himself and the Cabinet to immediate and efficient action where arterial roads are concerned. The report of the engineer of the Waipa County Council leaves us wondering whether the aforementioned subordinate has not “ pocketed ” the Hon. Herries as he did the Hon. Millar, who, after a lengthy and costly trip through Australia allegedly in search of information, was cajoled —or should we not say “ fooled ” into officially reporting that the N.Z. 'Railways had nothing to learn. Ye Gods!!