The star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2382, 21 March 1893, Page 2

The star.

(PU3UHHID niILT.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1893.

CONTKOL OF THE RAILWAYS.

We very much regret to see tbat Mr. George Hutchison, in a letter to tbe Canterbury Press, writeß, "Besponding to your invitation to expresß my views on the futurs of our railways I have to state that in my opinion it is desirable that a Minister be responsible for tbeir management. Tbe reasons are, I tbiok, obvious from the record of the last three years." We are not quite clear as to wbat is meant by a Minister being

"responsible." If it n?ean that tbere shall be 6omeone in Parliament charged with the duty of explaining railway administration to the House, tbere is undoubtedly something to be said for a change. If it be meant that power and control are to be vested in tbe Ministry of tbe day, as was the case before tbe setting up of tbe present Commission, it would be a very sad and retrograde step. We are not aware bow it could be arranged to secure the advantage of Ministerial responsibility without the disadvantage of Ministerial management, and the latter would be far too great a price to pay for tbe former. It is time that tbe electors of Patea district, in which Hawera and a large slice ot country around it is io' eluded, were considering the matter of representation. Mr Hutchison, it is underBtood, will be a candidate, but if he be unsound on this railway question he will not get many of the votes which he is, I no doubt, counting on. Hawera Borough and district will bave a very great voice in j tbe decision of next election for old Waitotara seat, and if tbe people at tbe other end do not soon bestir themselvos to see that candidates of suitable views are brought into tbe field it will be the duty of people in this part of tbe district to do so. We are not greatly concerned about party or the personnel of Ministers, but we do hope tbat a man representing country views will be returned. Mr. Hutchison himself has pointed out tbe dangers of tbe sooial discontent in towns, and the evils of personal govern, ment dominated by city organisations, Yet, strange to say, he eeems to favour a course which will simply result in the handing over of the greatest industrial department of tbe State to tbe tender mercies of tbe labour organisations.