ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXV, Issue 2126, 29 January 1909, Page 3

ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS.

1 The letter written by the general manager of tho New Zealand Railways in reference to the methods followed in the Addington workshops will have given every elector food lor reflection. The charges of " Government stroke" or want of energy and general inefficiency which Mr Ronayne has made have in all probability a btoad base of truth. They have at all events caused quite a flutter in the workshops, where the men of all grades .have united in a cry ,for an inquiry. This the Minister i'or Railways has promised to have instituted forthwith and has also said that if the report of the commission to bo set up shows that the cost of the work turned out of Addington is greater than it would be if it were the product of a private concern he will revert to the contract system. These are brave words indeed; but they will bo found wanting when the day of reckoning comes. There is a powerful political force at Addington and that will be much in evidence if any attempt is made to carry through the Ministor's avowed intention. We do not for a moment suppose that it is possible to make railway material as cheaply in a ! Government foundry as it could be manufactured in a private one. There is no incentive for the Government employee to cut down the-Cost. The public, his employers, would not thank him for doing so and he would in all probability run foul of someohe either above or below him in the service if he ■were to attempt to practise economy and to hustle himself and others. What the visiting engineer is alleged to have seen is not to be wondered at. Let the Dominion be thankful that he did not find tilings worse than he tells us they are. How can we expect them to be bettor under the present condition of political interference in the Railway, as in other branches of the public service? So long as members of Parliament are looked upon by some of their constituents as walking labor bureaux for the purpose of securing Government billets, so long will there be political interference in all the State departments. The moment any departmental change is announced the aid of the politician is invoked and proper control is thereby more or less interfered with. We cannot sec a way through this at present, for the reason that during a long course of years it has been the custom, and we have actually heard the friends of politicians enumerating the billets obtained by their heroes for sturdy applicants in much the same way as a Red Indian might be supposed to count tho scalps banging at his belt. So long as the great Railway Department is run by a party Minister so long will there be political nominees in its service. If these nominees happen to be totally unfitted for their duties so much the worse for the duties. We do not look for any permanent improvement to result from the proposed inquiry unless the whole manufacturing branch of the department is taken out of the hands of the Minister altogether and placed in charge of an independent board. If ft is allowed to remain under the management of the Minister for Railways he cannot possibly resist the pressure of political influence. It is too strong for any politician and the individual Minister who attempts to stay'the flcod would be certainly overwhelmed. It is apt to be forgotten that the workshops are for the public benefit rather than for that of the workmen. More especially is this forgetfulness likely to occur at election times. Wo see the extravagence of State-managed works in the construction of the railway lines of the Dominion under the co-operative system and the same tendency will be apparent in all industries carried on by the State. What is everybody's business is nobody's business, and oon'se, quently the State must economically fad m all enterprises.—Mataura Ensign.