The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1930. ANOTHER RAILWAY COMMITTEE.

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 12 September 1930, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1930. ANOTHER RAILWAY COMMITTEE.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clock in Hawcra. Manaia, Kaupskonui, Otakeho, Oeo, Pihama, Opunake, Normanby. Okaiawa Eltbam. Ngaere. Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Te Kiri, Mahoe. Lowgarth. Manutahi Kakaramea, Alton, Hurleyville Patea, Whenuakura, Waverley. Mokoia. Whakamara, Ohangai, Mereinere. Fraser Koad. and Ararata-

In commenting on the Government’s decision to appoint a Parliamentary committee to investigate certain features of the railways system with a view to making recommendations regarding policy, the “Dominion” to-day says: “The latest move is a transparent shuffle with the committee as the 'joker in the pack.” It is true that it is impossible to keep track of all the committees and commissions which the present Government has appointed, and it is also a fact that a large section of the public believes, rightly or wrongly, that the Government has “sparred for time” by sheltering behind special committees, but on the other hand it has to be admitted that the calling of all parties into conference on difficult problems is an act which has much to recommend it. If it is admitted that no one party in the House has a monopoly of intelligence, co-operation of this sort can be, under certain circumstances, eminently desirable. The suspicion that the democratic, party-polities system of government is not all that it is supposed to be is growing in the public mind. In many quarters people are sighing for something which seems as unattainable as the moon. “If we could only get away from party politics and have the best brains of Parliament concentrated upon the solution of our difficulties we might get somewhere, V they cry. Despite the confidence of Air Wilkinson and a few others in it, such a dream is far off complete realisation, but it is possible that it may be realised in part during the reign of a minority Government like the present administration, which is in the embarrassing poistion of being unable to redeem too-oxtravagant promises and is anxious to avoid, or share, responsibility for definite action. For our part we welcome the Acting-Prime Minister’s action —if it is backed by sincerity. Everybody has had a share in telling this Government, and its predccssors, “what is wrong with the railways.” One of the things most obviously wrong throughout has been the utilisation of the department as a political chopping block. Promises have been made by various parties to work wonders with the railways; when those parties have climbed into office they have proceeded to work those wonders, often with disastrous results. How much better it is to see a Govj eminent admit that it is doubtful about I the practicability of its promises than to suffer it going ahead stubbornly with its fanciful schemes, rather than oat its words. We saw too much of that sort of thing in the first twelve months of the present Government’s term. There was a tendency to close official eyes to obvious facts and insist that “everything will be all right because we said before the election that it would be.” That sort of false pride can cost a country millions—it has already proved costly to this Dominion. If the United Government is really beginning to believe that it is not necessarily, by reason of its position as the party in office, the alpha and omega of administrative wisdom, it is all to the good of the country. .The time and the facilities it gives the Committee, and the manner in which it deals with the Committee’s recommendations will prove whether the Government is earnestly desirous of wiping out, railway anomalies and setting courageously to work to make the railways a genuine asset to succeeding generations. As for the members of the committee, they have an unique opportunity to do something of really lasting benefit for the country—if they arc big enough to rise to the occasion.