GOVERNMENT CONTROL v. COMMISSIONERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13747, 31 May 1910, Page 7

GOVERNMENT CONTROL v. COMMISSIONERS.

A NEW SOUTH WALES OPINION. (FBOM A CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, May 30Mr T. H. Martvn, one of the oldest members of the- Sydney Stock Exchange, is at present in Wellington. In the course of an interview with a ''Dominion ,, reporter to-day> Mr Mortyn was asked to express his opinion on the system of Railway Commissioners in New South Wales. "The Commissioners arc a failure," he replied, "as compared with private enterprise, but they are a decided success as compared with Government control. Tho trouble is that, the Commisaioiicn; can't get money enough. Our first Commissioner. Mr Eddy, was a fine organiser. He found the railways in chaos aa the result of Government control, and he put them on a very sound, footing. It must be confessed that ho was terribly harassoci, and tho t.isl; killed him in the end. He has been succeeded by one or two good men. The chief difficulty tho Commissioner has is in getting enough money to make the necessary extensions. Noln-dy would for a moment suggest going back to Government control. The carrying trade of New South Wales has grown so quickly that it bos been found necessary to duplicate the whole of the main trunk lines, and a number cf new branch lines arc also necessary, but at present tho money is not forthcoming to do the work tsr-ept b;* slow degrees. There has been a great outcry about tho shortage of trucks and tho general lack of convenience for the bringing up of supplies, but that is not the, fault ol the system of Commissioners. The only thing you could oppose to that system is to e«y to private o^riiparries: 'If you caro toniako us linos, we'll allow you. , ' Undoubtedly the system is & success as compared with Government management."