RAILWAYS BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 6

RAILWAYS BOARD.

ATTACKED BY FARMERS

FAILURE TO FINISH LINES

"PREJUDICIAL TO PUBLIC.”

(Special Reporter).

AUCKLAND, Friday

Strong criticism of the action of the Railways Board in stopping the construction of some lines nearing completion was voiced by Mr A. E. Robinson at the Auckland provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day.

"When the Railways’ Commissioners were acting they increased freights and fares enormously, which had the effect of curtailing the profits," he said. "The board went lo the other extreme. It reduced freights and charges and is getting back more custom. But the whole operation of the board has been very prejudicial. It has stopped railways which should have been finished. These could have been completed very inexpensively. Passengers or senders of goods will not use services whore you have to go from coach to train and train to coach as you do from Donnelly’s Crossing to Auckland. Another f,10.000 to £20.000 would have finished the line. This business of stopping railways has not been in the interests of New Zealand but it has been in the interests of road transport.

“Something Behind It.”

"There must he something at the back of it all. With the Kirikopuni ■loop it would have been far more advisable to use unemployed labour on the line than keep them at the stupid work they arc doing. 1 blame the board for this.”

Mr J. I-J Furniss (Huntly) considered the union should resist every movement to place public services in the hands of commissioners over whom Parliament exercised little direct control.

The following remit from Northern Wairoa was declared carried on a show of hands:— “This conference considers that handing over the railways to a board has been prejudicial to public interests, and calls upon Parliament to resume its proper responsibilities in control of the railways.”