THE ADDINGTON SENSATION. Too Much Red Tape the Real Sore.

Free Lance, Volume IX, Issue 455, 20 March 1909, Page 6

THE ADDINGTON SENSATION. Too Much Red Tape the Real Sore.

EVERY week seems to bring along its own sensation, and last week's undoubtedly was the General Railway Manager's surprise packet. A Royal Commission of Inquiry was set up as a consequence of the charges he had made in his letter to the chief mechanical engineer, and no sooner does the Commission proceed to take evidence than Mr. Ronayne comes forward and repudiates the chaiges. He throws the responsibility back on his mysterious informant, the expert engineer, and says, though not in just those words, that "Everything in the garden's lovely. I fired the gun, but the other fellow made the bullet." • • • That was surprise packet No. 1. But there was another to follow. Public gossip had already pointed to the Hon. J. E. Jen.kmson as the "expert engineer" whose identity the General Manager wouldn't divulge. Mr. Jenkinson came forward voluntarily as a witness "to put hmself right." He said he had told Mr. Ronayne about certain things he had found on visiting Addington,, but had not used the word "loafing" at all. The General Manager's evidence about the interview, if it referred to him, was not quite correct. This was surprise packet No. 2. Now, there's nothing easier for the omniscent street-corner critic than to jump uponi Mr. Ronayne, or to make fun of him by referring to him as Pistol in the act of eating the leek. It is fairer to examine the circumstances with a desire to find out the true relation and significance of things. In the first place, Mr. Ronayme never intended his letter to the chief mechanical engineer to be published at all. He says expressly "it was given to the press by some unscrupulous persons." Why? Well, there is a large field of conjecture open. • • • If the General Manager had reflected he would not have dashed off that unguarded letter after his conversation with the "expert engineer." He would have sent for his next in command, told him the story he had heard, and asked him. to investigate and see what amount of truth there was in it. However, the letter was written, and, not being intended for publication, was not couched an the guarded phrases of official language. Then somebody rushed with the letter to the press, and the fat was in the fire at once. At any rate, from the pubhc point of view it is just as well. Mir. Jenkinson says there is discontent at Addmgton, and it is perfectly obvious there is. • • • So far as the evidence has gone, the charges of loafing, the Government stroke, indifferent work, etc., are being disproved. It is not so evident that private shops do not turn out work more cheaply. It is stated that Addington is not properly equipped with up-to-date machinery. But the real sore point, and t(he one that seems most to need attention, is that these workshops suffer too much from the evils of red tape. Too much power centralised in. Wellington. Far too little discretion left in th.c hands of the local managers. This is the trouble

at Aldington, and probably elsewhere as well. The fault lies with the system of ■mailing these State concerais. Bead the evidence of Mr. H. H. Jackson, loco, engineer in charge, and your only wonder is how things could be other than unsatisfactory. Everything has to be regulated from the central office in Wellington. No local discretion in engaging or dismissing "casual" labour. All appointments to be made from a file of applications graded at Wellingtons. Months consumed in making changes. Recommendations ignored. If these things are true', how could the results be satisfactory? No private business run in such a way could succeed. It is, of course, premature to pass judgment. But enough has been alleged to justify a commission of inquiry.