THE RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4534, 25 May 1876, Page 2

THE RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Mr. I-'i'.AXK B. Passjiore, the Superintending Engineer o£ Railways, has again returned South. We think when Mr. Passmore again visits us, it might save him a good many hard knocks if he were to announce at what hour and place, business people and others might interview him. Such a concession would prove of much convenience, besides affording many persons an opportunity of detailing grievances or complaints to the official head, which would not only help to do away with the circumlocution method of transacting many matters of Government business, but secure its immediate consideration and, perhaps, remedy. People who have a complaint to make, like to have it out with the person who has the control, and who has it in his power to remedy the evil. At present, things are in an unsatisfactory position. A settler has, or thinks he has (which is all the same thing for our present purpose) a grievance against the management of the railway. He hails some subordinate official on the line here, who shrugs his shoulders and tells him he cannot help it—that so and so are the orders of Mr. Passmore. The worthy settler forthwith utters comminations on Passmore, and Wellington, and all that emanates from the Empire City, and after relieving his feelings to some extent in this way, writes an angry letter to the Herald. But after all, he has the impression that the haughty authorities have not listened to his complaint, and his grievance rankles in his mind. He feels bitter on the subject. It would be immensely better if he could lay hisc omplaint before some competent authority, who would cause an alteration to be made, or who would shew him that no change ought to be made. Nothing is so aggravating as the feeling that one is not even listened to. Even despots have recognised the importance of the idea that they can be approached by the meanest of their subjects. On the other hand, the Government ought to know that their railway management is not perfection. Mr. Passmore may have the latest information from England on the subject, although we do not think he has, but we are sure that he has many things to learn from the actual working of the traffic here. And this brings us again to our starting point. Mr. Passmore has charge of the working of the railways in the North Island; there is no reason why he should not frequently visit the principal places on the lines; and when he does so, why should he not listen to all complaints and suggestions ? He did not do so while he was lately in Auckland, but went about iu a high-sniffling kind of way, more offensive than expressed contempt.