OUR RAILWAY SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3666, 30 October 1912, Page 7

OUR RAILWAY SERVICE.

DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE

AMENDMENT BILL COMMITTED. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WELLINGTON, Oct. 29. In the House this evening, on the motion to commit the Government Railways Amendment Bill, Mr. Heines said there was no disguising the iact that there was dissatisfaction in connection with the management of the railways. What they intended to do in the matter of a general manager of railways was to get the High Commissioner to call for applications and to arrange for a personal interview. They recognised that £3OOO would not got a first-class man, but should secure the services of a young man cf 3d or 40 who held a responsible post in some of the big companies in England, Ireland, Scotland, or Canada. It was recognised that the traffic department was the most important in the service.

Dealing with the salaries of railway servants, ho said the increases provided for the Second Division met .with the approval of the A.S.R.S. He regretted that the increases for the First Division did not satisfy the Railway Officers’ Institute, hut they would not do more this year. He hoped to get per cent, interest-out of the railways. That would allow of concessions which could not be allowed if 4 per cent, were looked, for. The increases for the First Division would cost £6410 for the first year, £13,750 for the second year, £14,520 for the third year, and £14.805 for the fourth year. The increases would come into force on April' 1 next. As to the- second division on April 1 next, the increases would amount to £83,000 a year. When the new management arrived next year he would be prepared to open up the whole matter and sot right any anomalies. He concluded by saying he thought that the country might well be proud of its railway service. Sir Joseph Ward attributed any dissatisfaction that existed to the present Administration endeavoring to get 4 per cent, out of the railways. He disagreed with the suggestion to import a general manager for the railways, pointing out that there were many who had spent years in the service, and were naturally looking forward to the plum in the service, Ha proceeded to enumerate a number of officers to; show that there was ample talent in the service. Continuing, lie advocated a Board of Experts, consisting of the heads of the maintenance and engineering departments to act in conjunction with the Minister.

Mr. Myers opposed this suggestion as inimical to co-ordination and cooperation. He maintained that not one of the gentlemen named by Sir Joseph Ward was capable of being appointed general manager, as. they lacked the necessary opportunities to qualify for such a difficult position, though, they were worthy men for other important work. He believed also it would be profitable to import an expert to report on engineering matters, and thus save thousands of pou nils. Mr Bussell contended that the person whom the Minister had in his mind's eye would never fulfil expectations. He would move the following amendment: "'And the House suggests that the Government should bring down an amendment to grant the concessions to the first division as from April 1, 1913, which were recommended bv the Railway Committee.”

It would, he said, only take an expenditure of £12,000 to allay the seething discontent among a large bodv of men and that amount could lie raised by increasing the freight on wool by 4d a bale. Mr Bussell’s amendment was lost bv 37 votes to 20.

The question of whether a railway manager should he imported or not, together with the general provisions of the measure, was discussed at length. Mr Buddo moved as an amendment to the committal of the Bill:

‘•That the House disagrees with the proposal to pay £3OOO a year for a general manager of railways, who is to be imported from outside New Zealand.”

Mr Isitt suggested that- an expert should be secured from Home for a year for, say, £SOOO. The amendment was lost by 38 votes to 25. The motion for committal was carried on the voices. The Bill was reported from Committee unamended and the House rose at 1.55.

■ AN INSULT TO THE PEOPLE.”

SIR JAT CARROLL’S VIEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH—PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Oct. 29. Sir Jas. Carroll was one of those who stoutly opposed the proposal to import a general manager for railways when the Railways Bill was beiag debated ill" the House to-night. He said that the action of the Minister for Railways in rushing this proposal on tlio House could. only mean a reflection on the intelligence of the country. “We spent a million a, vear in education and filled the newspapers with the pride of our exportation and yet could not obtain a manager of railways locally!" It was a manager of State railways that was wanted, and where in the world could the Minister find such a man? He could not do it. Were we building un a nationality here and were, we ambitious? ” lie suggested jocularly that the Premier should be deposed and made Minister for Railways, and the present Minister take up the position of Under-Secretary, our railways to be handed over to a foreign element —“to an outsider,” said Sir Jas. Carroll, in theatrical tones. Then, by doing so we confess that we are weak. It is a sorry tale that the Reform Party are telling ns today —that we cannot find the ability to carry on our internal works. Let us in?iri£i££o our own internal works. Tot ns manage our own internal affairs!” ' . . Surely tlio present Ministry could not decry their own ability and intelligence by saying we must go outside for greater ability. The proposal of the. Government was an insult to the people of New Zealand.