RAILWAYS BOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 115, 18 May 1931, Page 8

RAILWAYS BOARD

THE POSSIBLE MEMBERS BE ARRANGEMENT OF CABINET WELLINGTON, May 16. Although the Government has not reached a final decision concerning the personnel of the Railways Board to be established under the legislation of last session, the names of Sir Janies Gunson, Auckland, and Mr James Marchbanks, engineer to the Wellington Harbour Board, are singled out for special mention from among a large number of applicants for the positions and others considered to be qualified for appoint nicnt. It is understood that both names have been freely considered in official circles. Sir James Gunson was Mayor of Auckland for several years and during bia term oi office that city made consi 1erable progress in many directions. He is recognised as an able business man. Mr Marchbanks is a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and was formerly manager of the Wellington Manawatu Railway, which was purchased by the Government on the completion of the North Island Main Trunk line. He was a member of the recent Railways Commission, upon the recommendation of which numerous economies in the service were brought about and upon the suggestion of which the Government decided to remove the system from political control. Five members have to be appointed to the directorate and it is believed that the Government will do its best to make the new board as representative as possible of the whole Dominion. According to the Railways Amendment Act the board will take over the con trol of the railways from June 1, so the announcement of the personnel is expected to be made in the near future. Following upon this announcemen: it is practically certain that the Prime Minister will consider the question of readjusting the Ministerial portfolios. It is clear from the terms of the Act containing power to remove the rail ways from the direct control of Parliament that rhe Ministry of Railways will practically disappear, for, to all intents and purposes, the member of the Cabinet holding this portfolio will have little or nothing to do. The only member of the Cabinet who will have any real say in the operations of the system will be the Minister of Finance, to whom are reserved various powers concerning the spending of public money. A suggestion has been made that, for the time being at least, the Minister of Finance, who happens to be the Prime Minister, should assume the responsibih ity of the Kailways portfolio. As it is, however, the Prime Minister al-eady holds five portfolios and ho has charge of six departments, which on paper is a greater burden than that borne ly any other Minister. Therefore it is possible that the Prime Minister will bring about some rearrangement.