COEEESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3895, 16 January 1878, Page 3

COEEESPONDENCE.

THE RAILWAYS,

TO THE BDITOB OF THE PRE3S. Sib,—" One of the Public " is evidently i one of those gentlemen who " rush in where angels fear to tread." I, as a disinterested person, asked if certain statements were true, and " One of the Public" has answered in (he affirmative and taken up the cudgels in defence of the authorities. It is evident that the letter emanates from one who has bowed the head and become accustomed to the yoke of servility. So far as discipline is concerned, I thoroughly believe in it. But "discipline " and " tyranny " are very different things ; and I assert without fear of contradiction that if an enquiry into railway management was held (I do not mean the farce recently \ enacted in Wellington), and the men allowed to speak their minds freely, and without being in danger of dismissal for telling the truth, there would be exhibited such a feeling of discontent and dissatisfaction from one end of the line to the other as would not only astonish " one " but " all" of the public. Aβ regards " catching sympathy," nothing was further from my intention. The public sympathy is with the men already, and there are nundreds of other c&see of a far more flagrant and arbitrary nature than that referred to, which only want a rigid enquiry to bring to light. Apply to the proper authorities, saye " One of the Public." No doubt, honest man, he never has had any occasion to do so ; but if ever he has the misfortune to apply to the "proper authorities" for the purpose of redressing a grievance, then God help him if he has not an influential member of the Assembly at his back ; and even then it would avail little except that member was in favor with the Kngineer-in-Ohief or his Southern satellites. Tours, &c., Ehqxtibbb.