The Press. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1880.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4540, 18 February 1880, Page 2

The Press. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1880.

As most of our readers know, Mr. Conyera, Commiseioner of Railways for the Middle Island, and his department, have been removed to Dunedin. In a week or two the Accountant and his department, the Cashier and his assistants, will, it is stated, also take their departure for the same place. The public of Canterbury naturally want to know what all these changes mean. Does the remoTal of the departments imply that the headqasrtera of the Middle Island railways are for the future to be located in Dunedin. So extensive and complete a removal as that which we hare named is contrary to what the pailic here hare

been led to expect, and appears to us both impolitic and unnecessary. Wβ do not say that the Government have determined to make Dunedin the Lead-quarters of the railway system of this island. But if such is not their intention they should avoid doing anything which appears to lead to that result. If, on the other hand, they have resolved upon concentratringin that city the administration of the railway departmeat, all we can say is, that they hare made a great mistake —a mistake, however, which can yet be remedied. To have any head-quarters at all for the Middle Island railways, is, in our opinion, a blunder; and from what Mr. Oliver sud in his place in the House when the railway estimates were under discussion, we had hoped that he held a somewhat similar view. Accordingly when it was announced that Mr. Conyers was about to be removed to Dunedin, we concluded that the Minister for Public Works was bringing about a most important reform. Wβ regarded the change as the first step towards breaking up the present pernicious system j of making one great acconnt for all the j railways in the island. Wβ hoped to find that the course taken was only preliminary to adopting the system of separate sections, under which each would be worked upon its own merits. This, we are satisfied, is what should be done. If a spirit of emulation between those in charge of the different sections is to be fostered, with the object of reducing the working expenses, and working the lines to advantage, we are convinced that the present plan of a great central department must be abandoned. If we are to hare in each island an officer who will absorb whatever praise or blame good or bad management calls forth, we cannot expect to reap the full benefit of the change which it is understood Mr. Oliver has in view. l£ the removal of Mr. Conyers simply means that for the future the headquarters of the Middle Island railways are to be fixed at Dunedin, and that the work which till now has been done by the Accountant's and Cashier's departments in Christchurch is to be performed in the former place, then we cannot congratulate the Minister for Public Works on the step he has taken. Wβ do not say this from any desire to raise a local cry, but because we think the coarse which has been decided on is calculated to cause delays and lead to complications. If the Government do not see their way to do that which we think should be done—that is, sever the railway administration of the island; if they do believe that a Commissioner is absolutely necessary, then that officer should have no permanent headquarters. He should, from time to time, be removed to the place where the greatest amount of administrative attention is needed, and when he has done his work in one locality he should be shifted to another. This matter is one of such importance that it is to be hoped that Mr. Oliver will have the question of the removal of Mr. Conyers and the other departments so plainly brought before him as to induce him to lose no time in reconsidering what would seem to be his present action. In judging of this question, the removal of the railway head-quarters should not be confounded with the subject of the workshops at Addington. These, we are given to understand, will be fitted up with the least possible delay, and no attempt whatever will be made to create a great central establishment at Bonedin for workshop purposes to the injury of the railway management.

That was sound advice which used to be given by oar grandfathers which warned us on no account to boast aloud of good fortune. It was safe enough to think, bat so sure as utterance was given to the thought the Nemesis would arise. It was only the other day we expressed a wish that the Opposition journals, for the sake of their peace of mind, would contrive to hit upon some nice bit of jobbery on the part of the present Government. Hardly was the wish uttered before the punishment was upon us. We have been informed of an appointment made by the Hall Ministry which, as stated by the Opposition papers, would certainly leave but too little to choose between the doings of the existing holders of office and their predecessors. It is true that in one respect the scandal is not so great. When the late Government went in for a "job" they did the thing on a grand scale. The foreshore reclamation at Grahamstpwn in connection with the Thames-Waikato railway, has cost a matter of £60,000 or £ 70,000. This work, it is admitted now on all hands, is a mere " job." Even the Thames Advertiser, a most thoroughgoing defender of the acts and deeds of the late Government, is constrained to characterise it as "a piece of jobbery" committed through the Government yielding to some "meddling busy-bodies at Grahamstown." Wβ are now told that the Hall Ministry are treading in the footsteps of those whom they have turned out of office for this kind of malpractice. In the present position of the colony it would be difficult, of course, for any Government to throw away so large a sum of money. But according to their opportunities they are, the public are being persuaded, doing precisely the same thing. As every one knows, the office of Commandant of the Volunteers, at one time held by Colonel Harrington, was abolished a few years ago on the plea of economy, and it has ever since remained vacant. The volnnteera have had to be content with an annual inspection performed by one or other of the many military men to be found in the colony. But, if we are to believe the Opposition press, no sooner were the present Government in power than they determined upon reviving the office formerly held by Colonel Harrington. Not only so, they went a step farther, and appointed a Commandant of the Middle Island volunteers alone at, if what our friends hear be true, a salary of £700 a year. The fortunate subject of this most awful job is, we are told, General Davidson, whose headquarters are to be at Nelson. This is what the public have been treated to by the Opposition journals, as a proof that the Hall Government are no better than their predecessors. Will our readers believe that the story, as given, is absolutely untrue. We do not mean that there is nothing in it On the contrary, several of the statements which go to make up tins precious canard are no more nor less than simple facte. Colonel Harrington's office was abolished some time ago, on the plea of economy. General Davidson has been appointed to an office in connection with toe Volunteers. But General Davidson has not been made Commandant, and he does sat receive a salary. During the present year he will inspect the farces ia this

island, and will be allowed a small sum for travelling expenses. This is the whole substratum of fact which has originated the story of the Opposition journals.