RAILWAY BILL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10112, 10 August 1893, Page 5

RAILWAY BILL.

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. [from oub own correspondent;! WELLINGTON, August 9. The Government Railways Act Amendment B'U, shortly to be brought down by the Premier, contains several clauses which were not in the measure submitted by him to the House last year. The most important of the new clauses are those providing for a Minister of tbe Crown being one of the Railway Commissioners. Tins Minister is to be appointed from time to time by the Governor on behalf of the Queen, and is to be called the Minister for Railways. In addition to the special authorities and duties conferred upon him by the new Act, ha will have the same power in respect of Government railways, which the Minister for Public Works no.v has, except the power of taking lands for railway purposes. Every such Minister shall be a member of tho Executive Council, holding one or more of the offices mentioned or included in the third schedule of “ The Civil List Act, 18S3, Amendment Act, 1873,” or either of the offices of Minister for Defence or Minister for Education. He will be ex oflicio a Commissioner, but while tue other three Commissioners who act with him will each receive a salary up to £IOOO per annum, ho will not be remunerated tor his work. In all respecis he will exei-cha ail the powers of a Commissioner. As President of the meetings of the Board he will havo a deliberative and a casting vote. The Bill provides that every Comraiaaioaer shall hold office during good behaviour for the term for which he has been appointed, but at any time whan Parliament is not sitting, the Goveraor-in-Councii may suspend him from office, either for inability, mismanagement, misbehaviour or neglect or foilure to carry out the provisions of the Act. In case of such suspension, a full statement of the cause of it will have to be laid before Parliament at the commencement of tbe next session. If, however, during such session his recall be desired by either House, the Governor shall have power to reinstate him ia office. - A Commissioner shall bo deemed to have vacated his office if ha engage ia any oilier than the duties of hia office, if he become bankrupt, absent himself from duty without leave for a period of fourteen consecutive days, become personally interested in any contract made on behalf of the Commissioners, or receive any bribe or reward. The Minister for Railways shall determine cituations for stations, &e., and may at any timo request the Commissionero to propose a scheme for the increase of income or decrease of expenditure, and, if he approve of it, may direct them to carry it into effect. An important provision in the Bill is that all contracts above £IOO shall be submitted to public lender; and that the annual estimates shall be submitted to Government before bring presented to Parliament. The Bill contains several other clauses dealing wish minor matters of detail.

The publication of the provisions of the Bill has revived the ditcussion on the proposed change in the control of the railways. The Press this evening says:— “The proposals show a deteiminarion to give tho Minister supreme ■ executive authority, and to reduce the Commission e: s to a merely consultative position. Tho Government of the day is to have a paramount, all-petvadicg voice in the management of the railways, and all the polifciwl abußts from which tba present pyctam has enabled iu to escape are to be revived. The proposal should be scouted with soma scorn, and resist'd with all the vigour and persistence possible within the walla of Parliament. The Post taken a Eimuar view, alleging that tin! chief obj.ot cf tee Bill is to get rid of Mr M’Kerrow, tbe Chief Railway Commissioner, aa he will not retain office if his salary sa reduced to £IOOO a year. The Post adds : “ We trust than tho Bouse will never agree to such a Bill. If over stonewall resistance to a pernicious measure coull be justified, it would bo in this case. It should be fought line by line, word by word, until, if need be. Parliament expires by effluxion of time. If' the Government would be content to provide for a Minister having a coat on the Railway Board aa an ordinary member a ; <J rot as Chairman, tau sara??gomo:;t wce'.d ba a good ©no aa bv.- u ; , lag way - . .ar-iiiiti.-iifcion more Is; a; w . the c. 1 -h;-ftAt and y-.-it. V-, a

But a Minister as Chairman with a deliberative and a casting vote is a thing to ba resisted at all hazards to the very last; and if a Minister ia to eit _at the Board in any capacity, the Bill giving him a seat should also provide for the continuance in office of the present Commissioners, instead of leaving it open to the Government to appoint new Commissioners in January next.”