OUR SPECIAL.

Bush Advocate, Volume V, Issue 354, 16 August 1890, Page 2

OUR SPECIAL.

(by telegraph.) Wellington, This day. The report of the select committee w«s laid on the table of the House yesterday afternoon. The committee was to enquire into and . report upon petitions, presented, tq. the House iv reference to the pres'eiift system of railway management. Two issues were placed before the comroitte.e to consider. The first was the repeal of the Government Railways Abt, 1887 : the second was the unconditional trial of the stage.system of .fares as applied to the passenger -traffic advocated by Mr Vaile. With 'regard ..to the^firat issue the committee was of opinion that jtwas.a large ineasujeof colonial policy involving a division of interests and should be dealt with by the House, and' as to the second issue the committee considered that the Kailway Commissioners were in the position of solo judges as to the best method of working and management of tha <railw*ys, jand • therefore the committee recommended that the petition be referred to the Commissioners for . consideration. Mr T. Thompson moved an amendment that the report be referred back to the committee for re-consideration and taking of further evidence. The amendment was lost by-24 to 21.. Mr Smith, asked the Government if Ihey. would bring in legislation that ■jvo'uld enable :coneeasions to be granted ; 6ntliecarrikge^ofrfirewo*o t d and produce on the Napier- Wood ville railway line, thp/JE^ilWjay- Commissioners having stated that while"' favorable to granting such concessions they cannot be- granted ■Until such, legislation is passed. The reason he asked the question vv as that,, the Railway Commissioners, in reply to' an application made to them to reduce the carriage on firewood and other local productions on the Napier-Woodville line sent a reply to the following effect :— That they would take the matter into early consideration, but unless the legislators should make, provision for such reduction, no large reduction could be made without disturbing the finances of ' the colony. He (Mr Smith) thought it was important, not only for, the; Napier district, but for other parts of the" colony, that they should know the position the Commissioners' stand in,- as up to the present the public have been under the impression that the Commissioners could reduce freights: He should like the Government to make the matter clear. Mr Fergus, in reply, said he would see the Commissioners, and see if arrangements could bn made in this matter. Mr R. Thompson asked Government why the Public Works Department has not bean abolished, and the work performed by that Department handed over the Railway 'Commissioners in terms of the Government Railway Act, 1887. Mr Fergus said the Public Works Department had a great deal of work from the survey and other departments in surveying bridges. ' They would see by the Public Works statement that about four millions ; of money had been spent in connection with this Department, and ,it was ..still required to wind up the works. Negotiations are going on between the Government and Opposition with a view to the Opposition assisting^ the Government to. close the session within a reasonable time. It is understood that the Government will give a pledge that the ; House jshall meet again in April, "and the' Opposition will undertake not t© prolong debates, unnecessarily.