RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 48, Issue 14610, 8 March 1922, Page 5

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

A VIGOROUS ATTACK. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. - The Government’s railway policy was vigorously attacked to-day at a conference of delegates to tho Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen s Association of New Zealand. Mr Mitchell (Dunedin) said he was sure every person in New Zealand resented tho absolutely senseless way in whiph tho railways were being run. He proceeded to give instances of alleged bad management. lie said that instead of making the railways more attractive, the Government urns' doing just the reverse, while from a business point ot: view the action taken by the Government for so-called economies would never hold water. Several constituencies were practically' controlled by railway servants, which showed where the political influence came in. He moved to the effect that the Government be asked to take steps to sell the railways. Mr A. Thompson (“Auckland) said that no business man could tolerate the maimer in which the railways were being run to-day. . Mr F. K. King (Otago) said the world’s experience had been that Stateowned railways had never been a success, whilo those of private enterprise Mr B. G. Crdll (Wellington) did not think the motion would go very far, but it might resuscitate a dormant spark and lead towards a better system. Mr R. J. Clifton (Auckland) _ agreed that too much could not be said about the manner in which the railways were conducted, but to suggest that theii management should pass into the hands of a private’combine was altogether against the ideas of a democratic coun try, and would come ill from such a body as the Commercial Travellers’ Association. Such a motion should not go forth from the association. Mr D. W. McLean (Auckland) said the whole matter resolved itself into the need for more commercial men in the Government. Personally he thought tho motion was a little too strong, and would like to see the words regarding the selling deleted. Mr Mitchell agreed to amend the motion, and moved: “In consequence ol our members’ realisation that the railways are not being run in ehc best interests of the country, and their conviction that the only solution of the existing difficulties lies in proper commercial control, it is hereby resolved that the Government be asked to consider the advisability of selling the railways with a view to their being conducted under efficient management.” Later on, Mr Mitchell agreed to .accept a modification of his motion. Phc alteration lay* only in regard to the “selling” part of the motion, the last part, of which was altered to read:— “The Government be asked to conside? the advisability of taking steps # to bring the Department under efficient commercial control free from political influence.” In that form the motion was earned.