RAILWAY REFORM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11665, 23 August 1898, Page 4

RAILWAY REFORM.

TVii are not disposed to find any very factious fault With tho Legislative Council for declining to hear 1 tho evidence of Mr Samuel Va.ile in support of his proposed stage system of railway fares. The author of that system has So often and so lucidly explained and commended the reform that the members of tho Council must bo very dense indeed if they require any further demonstrations of its advantage. It may be said, too, that the same thing 'would apply to any proposal to have a statement of his views made by Mr Vaiie before the Railways Committee of the House, and up to the present time our opinion would have been that such a proceeding could only result in waste of time and temper. There is, however, a totally different aspect placed upon the matter by the letter addressed by Mr Valle to the Railways Com-

mittee, of which an abstract is supplied by our parliamentary correspondent. cusations made in that document seem to to demand inquiry, and as Mr Vaile is now|, in Wellington, and possibly is prepared to offer proofs of Ids allegations, it is the duty of the Committee to call upon bim to specify the witnesses who acted improperly and then to inquire into the charges. We should be sorry to behove that any Cml servant, would, to curry favour with Ministers, or tq discredit a reform which Ministers were desirous of thwarting, knowingly give un rue and misleading evidence; but the accusation is made, and if it is not met the presumption will remain that it is true. Reformers are apt to be fanatical and make astounding statements with very little foundation, when they think that such a course will help forward their cause. Mr Vaile has, however,j conducted his railway campaign with so much vigor and zeal, combined with rational andi moderate methods, that we hardly- think hei would lay charges against public officials without first having duly considered their, bearing and effect. There is in his, complaint 1 of being “ condemned unheard,” justa -traca of embittered feeling, for his scheme has Te- 1 ceived Ministerial consideration, his evidence has been heard, and a Government accountant Mr A. C. Fife, lias, in a table, substantiated the contention that a mere doubling of the number of passengers would, under Mr Vaile s stage'system, produce equal financial results to those now being obtained. If the Railways Committee does noi> act upon Mr Vaile’s challenge, it is open for that gentle-; man to set forth Ids grievance, in a petition to the House, and that would be certain to 1 receive attention. The arguments and con-; , siderations in favour of the stage system of: railway fares are so cogent and convincing! that it would be intolerable for the imputation to remain unanswered that the Parliament of the country has been grossly deceived by the evidence of experts upon whom' it relied for guidance in this important mat» ! ter.