VOICE OF CAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 105, 6 May 1931, Page 9

VOICE OF CAIN

HAND OF-THE UNIONS

"NON-POLITICAL" RAILWAYS

A LITTLE LEAK

The substitution of non-political control of railways, for political control thereof, does not always mean the complete exclusion of political influence. Already Few Zealand is asking itself to what extent political influence may creep past the barriers erected in tho now legislation. , Thoreforo a recent discussion in Victoria concerning tho - Victorian Minister of Railways and the Victorian Eailway Commissioners, will be of interest. " MANAGEMENT (NOT POLICY) 1 J MATTER. • . ■ It must be borne in mind that Victoria is under a Labour (Ilogan) Government, but between Hognu Labour, and Lang (N.S.W.) Labour there appears to be, if not a distinction, cer--1 tainly a difference. Nevertheless, the "Argus" thus assails the Victorian Minister of Railways, Sir. Cain: "By issuing an instruction to the Commissioners to abolish forthwith the ■ seven fuel conservation hoards established several years ago ±ho Minister .of Hail ways (Air.. Cain) proves that he has speedily forgotten the admirable sentiments uttered by lum. a few days ago concerning the right of the Commissioners to manage tho (service without political interference. ,On this occasion he has interfered in the most flagrant manner, and there is little room for doubt that his interference has been inspired by,the hostility of officials of tho Bailways Union to an administrative reform instituted by tho Commissioners which .has never mot with -union approval. The contention of, the union officials that* the . modest sum which the boards cost is an unnecessary expense corn.es strangely from men who have recently been loud in their clamour- that the railways should be overstaffed mth numerous nion at full pay in order'to avoid Buffering to siny railway-man. It is not true, moreover, for the boards have saved thousands of pounds while costing a few hundreds. Tho real reason for the union's opposition to the boards is that they are agencies for creating loyalty, efficiency, and good will, and conflict ■with*the union's policy of utrengthening itself as champion of tailwaymen's interests by fostering dis-* content." , ' WHEBE DOES "POLICY" END. According to tho "Argus," the Victorian law will need to be amended if it is to completely protect commissioner control from Ministerial interference. ,The exception provided fbr^poiicy mat- • tors'is wide enough to admit too much of' tho political finger, and will even ]ct in the political fist: "The'letter of *!ie law on these matters is that tho, Ministry may direct the, Commissioners on quostions of policy. That provision was originally, introduced into tlie .Eailways Act to undermine the ■authority of tho Commissioners on tho larger questions, but those who framed it did not contemplate that it would bo used nearly 40 years later by Ministers who were not concerned with railway policy so much as with xail- . way votes. When anything of which the unions do not approve is submitted to the Minister he finds it convenient ' to elevate the subject into a matter of railway policy and to issue ' orders accordingly. "Mr. Cain said, 'I have abolished the' committees with a view to economy. Bringing together a number-of officers ■periodically from, all parts* of the Stale is, in my opinion, an unnecessary expense.' Tho 'I' and the 'my' stand but conspicuously in. this regal pronouncement, and there may be peoplo'dull enough to think, that a statement made with such pompous assurance has some substanco behind it. Most people, however, will "regard .the order as the pronouncement of a weakling pretending to bo strong, of an ig- ■ norant person in accidental, possession of office and moro concerned with the preservation of it than with the public ■' interest. Some employees of .the Dcf partment told Mr. Cain.what he was to do, and not having any reasons for doing what he, did he -had to invent them. , , INVASION OF AUTHORITY... ' "It was an impudent- invasion (of the Commissioners''authority, clone for no good public purpose and entirely with the" object of offoring something that' would placate the, members of . a powerful union. Taxpayers who have ■ to. contribute heavily to niako up the deficiencies in the railways wiil be well aware .that. Mr. Cain could, not give the slightest consideration to ihcir interests when his own were .so deeply concerned. ■ '.-'.■ ,"Mr. Cain is credited with, political ambition, of a higher kind even than that which, ho has realised. It may be on that account that he has taken advantage of the absence of Mr. Ilogan to exercise the power that' should certainly not have been exorcised' in the absence of the Premier. Directions to the Commissioners on a matter of pol- . icy are concerned as, a rule with fin- -, ance, and "with important matters of .finance at that. Departure from the , sound rule which Mr. Cain laid down , last week with such, unction when it suited him should be made only after Cabinet consideration. The Treasurer is responsible for tho finances,'.and when questions of railway .management- conflict with general financial policy tho . reserve power of tho Minister might , justifiably be exercised. This statutory provision, however, should not be . used to permit a Minister to run in and out according -to. tho dictates of political prudence." A POSTSCRIPT. Next day (23rd April) the following paragraph appeared in the news columns of tho "Argus": "Inquiries yesterday revealed that tho Minister for Eailways (Mr. Caiu) .acted on his own initiative when ho issued tho instruction to,.tho Railways Commissionfirs to' abolish the ■ fuel conservation committees., Tho Acting-Premier (Mr. Tunnecliffe) said ttiat as far as lie fcnew the mattor had not been discussed by the Cabinet. 'In issuing tho infitruction,' added Mr. Tunnecliffe, 'Mr. Cain evidently presumed that it was a matter entirely within his purview, and he .acted accordingly.' "