RAILWAYS MANAGEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 187, 9 August 1893, Page 5

RAILWAYS MANAGEMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT BILL.

PROPOSED MINISTER FOR RAIL

WAYS

(BY TELEGRAPH—PARLIAMENTARY

REPORTER.)

'" r Wellington, this day. The Government Railways Act Amendment Bill shortly to be brought down by the Premier contains several clauses which wero nob in the measure submitted by him to the House last year. The most important of the new clauses aro tho3e providing for a Minister of the Crown being one of the Railway Commissioners. This Minister is to be appointed from time to time by the Governor on behalf of the Queen, and is to be called Minister for Railways.

In addition to special authorities and duties conferred on him by the new Act, he will have the same power in respect of the Government railways which the Minister for Public Works now has, except the power of taking lands for railway purposes.

Every such Minister shall be a member of tho Executive Council, holding: one or more of the offices mentioned or included in the third schedule of tho Civil List Act, 1863, Amendment Acb, 1873, or either of tho offices of Mines or Defence or Minister of Education. Ho will be ex officio a Commissioner, but while the other three Commissioners who acb wibh him will each receive salary up to £l,ooo*per annum he will not be remunerated for bis work.

In all respects he will exercise all the powers of a Commissioner and, as president of the meetings of tho Board, will have a deliberate and casting vote.

The Bill provides tbab every Commissioner shall hold office during good behaviour for the term he has been appointed, bub ab any time when Parliament is not sitting the Governor-in-Council may suspend him from office, either for inability, mismanagement, misbehaviour, or neglect, or failure to carry out the provisions of the Acb.

In ctjse of such suspension, a full statement of the cause will have to bo be laid before Parliament ab tho commencement of next session. If, however, during such session his recall be desired by either House, the Governor shall have power to reinstate him in office.

A Commissioner shall be deemed to have vacated his office if he engages in any other than the duties of his office, if he become bankrupt, absent himself from duty without leave for a period of 14 consecutive clays, becomes personally interested in any contract made on behalf of the Commissioners, or receives any bribe or reward.

The Minister for Railways shall determine the situations for stations, etc., and may at any time request tho Commissioners to propose a scheme for increase of income, or decrease of expenditure, and, if he approves of it, direct bhem to carry it into effect.

An important provision in the Bill is that all contracts above £100 shall be submitted to public contract, that annual estimates be submitted to the Governmenb before presenting them to Parliament. There are also several other clauses dealing with minor matters of detail.