THE CHIEF RAILWAY COMMISSIONER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 157, 23 July 1889, Page 4

THE CHIEF RAILWAY COMMISSIONER.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL. Correspondence between the Government and the Agent-General relative fco the appointment of the Chief Railway Osm-. missioner was laid on the table last week. Sir F. D. Sell says that after a conversation with Sir Edwd. Watkin and Mr Findley he cannot take the responsibility of reoommend ing any of the candidates who hava applied, gome wonld be competent as managers, but none possessed, in the opinion of himself and his oolleagues, the combination of qualities really needed for the position of Ohief Commissioner. Sir Francis asserts that any one in the first rank was entirely ont of the question, as he could obtaifr a higher salary at home, and even men in the second rank, from whom at the best the colony would have to choose, get salaries of £2000 and npwards, and oould not be tempted oat to the colony for less than £2500 or £3000. Later Sir F. D. Bell writes he has " given ap all hope of being able to find for a salary of £3000 anyone ooming up to his ideal of what a Ohief Railway Commissioner should be. " He implies tbat Mr Eddy might pos sibly have been obtained had the £3000 been offered in time, for he was snapped op by New South Wales on those terms. He adds that it was hardly possible that even a second rank man could be obtained for £3000, but that Mr Frank Ree was the best man obtainable. Mr Bee's qualifications are then detailed, he being deputy-manager at Liverpool, in oharge of a large goods traffic with severe competition, and being next on the North - Western list for promotion, having served 20 years on that line. A warm recommendation from Mr Findley is appended. Subsequently, however, Sir F. D. Sell telegraphs and writes tbat Mr Ree has withdrawn his candidature, an opening having offered for his promotion on his own railway, and Sir Francis expressly says " Mr Ree came to that decision in consequence of his pending promotion, and not on aocount of the delay in my being able to tell him whether ha would be appointed by the Government." Mr Findley, manager of the North Western line, also writeß regarding Mr Bee's with' drawal :-r- <( He has done this after mature consideration as to his chances with this | Company, and not from any delay in hearing definitely from yon." Finally the Agent* General, acknowledging the intimation that Mr MoKerrow bas been appointed Ohief Commissioner, expresses great satisfaction, and adds that he has no hesitation in saying that, with a sißgla exception, he had never had the chance of getting a "man in England who could even approach Mr MoKerrow in the combination of high qualities by whioh the Railway Commission would now be made what it ought to be for the colony. The oost of the telegrams on the subject is stated to have been £144 18s. It will be observed that this bears out statements made by Government on the subject that the Agent-General's recommendation of Mr Ree Was a " qualified one," and tbat Mr Ree's withdrawal was not due io delay on the part of Government in dealing with theme » fo r.