TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 72, 21 September 1912, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand has scope for a, manager of railways. Here is A Manager an enterpr'se in which for -' a sum of about £32,the Railways. 000,000 is invested, and the expansion is continuous. It is admitted by all commentators that a thoroughly qualified man is needed, but opinions diner remarkably about the calibre and character of the man to succeed Mr. Ronayne, who will be retiring soon on superannuation. The Minister (the Hon. W. H. Herries) seemß determined to import a manager from England, not because he is prejudiced in favour of Englishmen, but because he believes that a suitable New Zeblander is not available for the Very important position. How could the Minister fairly come to such a conclusion before the portfolio had been in his hands more than a month? It may be said for him that he had eyes to see and ears to hear while he was in opposition, but he probably had no extensive opportunities to get a comprehensive insjde view of tho Department. What class of railway expert dop« the Minister hope to introduce? He musthave some definite type in mind when his thought is so concentrated on Englishmen. "Check-waste," in The Post "this week, has explained that the officers of the large competitive English companies are intense specialists in limited directions. The manager, who has rivals to watch, has to be a tactician, and use much of his energy on combative activities which the State monopoly in New Zealand does not require. He is not necessarily a man of profound technical knowledge of railways, but he has to be master in high finance. Under him he has specialists, who tire not encouraged to b» "all-round" men. The division, of labour is clearly marked out; each man has his own path. New Zealand's need is an "all-round" man. t{ this t\pc is not usually dcAeloppd in the railway HVf*lnm» of England, the Minister would) indeed, b« lucky to catch such •> Uensori it| th» PW Gotuitr& H|

should be more likely to find the deaired man in Australasia or America, of which th© railway systems are vastly different from Britain's. It will be necessary here to join up the Railway Department (now concerned solely with the working railways) with the construction side, how entrusted to the Public Works Department. This matter of now construction is a comparatively, minor one in England, but it is immensely important here and in Australia. The problem of the colonial temperament haß also to be considered. We certainly believe that Mr. Herries should look keenly through Australasia before he casts his eye across 1.5,000 miles of sea for his "all-round" manager. An important enquiry, involving the national policy of Parliament railway construction, and the Prese. has just been concluded by a Special Committee of the House of Representatives. The hearing of the evidence on the petition of the Taupo«Totara Timber Company has_ been finished, and the committee ia framing it« report. In the meantime the Press ie not privileged to comment on the interesting evidence. We do not quarrel with that reetriction, but we do maintain that it ie possible to put the Press into an awkward position on a question of deep public intereat. For example, on the day when the report of the Ta.upo-Tot«ra Committee ifl tabled in the House, thus automatically permitting the Press to comment, a vote may be taken oa the report, and the Presfl will have the pleasure of discussing the flituation next day. Of coiiree, w& are aware that a division in the House on that report will not necessarily fix the Government's attitude, but thie admission does not vitiate our argument that it is undesirable to have a vote taken on large affaire of State till the Press has had an opportunity to sift the evidence and the statements based on the testimony. It frequently happens that the Press takes more pains to study these problem* than most members do, and it i« possible for the Press to fairly put a case before a doubtful member in euch a manner as to influence hie vote for the public good. Therefore the debate on national is* eitea wrapped up in a committee's report should not be taken on the day when the report is tabled. Otherwise, if the Government of the day appears eager to go to a vote before the couhtry has had a chance to consider thß report, the Opposition can do a public service by "talking out" the document. In some cases the hasty adoption of a report is immaterial, but it is easily possible for such procedure to inflict an injury on the public. Remembering Mr. Massey's promises to give a "square deal" to all classes, we are confident that the fairness of thin plea will appeal to him.

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