CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2388, 28 March 1893, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE CONTEOL OF THE RAILWAYS.

To the Editor of the Star.

Sir, — I notice you direot attention to the short answer I Beat to the query of the Canterbury Press, to the effect that in my opinion it was desirable a Minister should be responsible for the management of our railways. "Sou rightly consider tbe subject an important one ; and, before the electors, I shall deal with it as its importance demaode I may be permitted, however, to say that I have already referred to it at one of my meetings during the present recess. I then stated shortly the reasons which seemed to me to make it desirable tbat some change should be introduced into the present system. lam not in favor of reverting to the previous practice of administering tho railways through the Ministry of toe day, but I am in favor of establishing some connection between the' management of the railways and Parliament. Experience of the present system has, to my mind, shown how, from political control, the power has passed beyond all control. Not to mention instances ot grievances and requisitions which have been ignored or overridden in tbe severest disregard of local claims, a sufficient ground for a change appears to exist in tbe practical absence of all responsibility for the expenditure of tbe largest spending department of thfl State. For the ourrent year the sum demanded was £714,914, and it had to be passed without the slightest explanation. Session alter session, whatever Ministry was ia office, the vote for railway expenditure bas reached the House of Representatives just as any reply might do which was sent by the Commissioners through tbe Minister of Public Works on some question of public importance raised in Parliament. If we did not like it we could lump it. And " lump it " has been tbe invariablo and literal experience. Members have been warned tbat any reduction would be ignored ; and this, in the face of such increases year after year, in the salaries of the more highly paid officers, as would not have been tolerated m any branch of the publio service over wbich the House had control. My remedy would be to engraft on the present system of management by Commissioners, such connection with Parliament — tbe source of all supply —as would ensure responsibility. This, I think, might be effected by tbe Minister of PubUo Works being President o( the Board. As I explained at tbe publio meeting referred to, this opinion iB entirely apart from the individuality of the present Minister of Publio Works, who bas unfortunately, by bis pugilistic attitude to the present Commissioners, somewhat disturbed the publio fJeace of mind on the subject. — I am, &c, G. Hutchison. March 26th.