MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS MR. SEDDON OS THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 112, 13 May 1891, Page 3

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS MR. SEDDON OS THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

, TBt Tsleobaph.J 1 fUNITKD PItBSS ASSOCIATION. I 3 Auckland, 12th Majr. ] To-day the Hon. R. Seddop was interviewed by Mr. S. V»ile regarding a trial of the latter's Bystem upon the railways. Mr. Vailo read a roply to a lottor from Mr. ' M'Kerrow, Chief Commissioner, rejrardin-j * his system, and said that the Commie5 sioners had steadily increased thp railway rates till they were now 25, por cent, above what tboy were when tho Commissioners . tookohargo; and ho futther afaoited that [ nio3t unjust diff"tontial rates were being ' maintained. Mr. Seddon said he thought Parliament would be vory ohary in inter. ) fcrisg with tho Kuiltray Commisiioners until I the expiry of their term of offloo. Tbo working of the railway system was more expensive than had bcon originally intended, and the raisin? of tha rates meant an inoreaso of taxation. Speaking for himself, [ he had always had grave doubts as to 1 whether Parliament bad been wise in handing over the sole control of their railways . to three irresponsible men. Mr. Seddon [ said further that he had moans of knowin? that there was another matter in I regard to the railway that deseryed at- \ tontion. The plant \lC,n lo)i.n^ itq value , would oontinue to do so,, and while tbe railways wore formerly managed by three 1 mon Borne eleven men were now omployed to do the same work. He had taken exception , to tbe aotion of tho Railway Commisaiouera in sending Home for four nnw boilers. Ho had made enquiry aa to why the boi'era wero not made in tbo colony, and waa informed that the Commissioners had not tho necessary accommodation and conld not have got the work dono here in time. He (Mr. Seddon) then asked for details, when the Commissioners replied that they did not consider that they wero required to answer suoh question)}. $Vp,rn another reljablp qouroe, ho ascertained that theße boil or s oould have been made in the oolony, and that while tho orders were sent some large numbers of boilermakora were idle at Auokland, Wellington, Christohuroh, and Dunedin. It was of course reasonable that the Commissioners should not be interfered with, so far a 3 the employment of men was concerned, but it did seora to him atrango that the Commissioner);, without consulting Parliament or anybody else, could send Home orders for works and then ask th,Q, colony for a large sum of npnpy H> V&Y (or 1 tbem. " ' Tip Hon. H. Seddon left to-nightj for j Whangarei.'and will proceed thonoe to the Puhipuhi field, returning to Auoklnnd by Way of RubboH op Thursday,