VAILES SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9140, 23 August 1888, Page 5

VAILES SCHEME.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday. As to the suggestion that a short enabling Bill should be passed by the House to legalise the acceptance of Mr. Vaile's proposals, I may say that there is not the slightest prospect of the House agreeing to such a Bill, even if submitted. When the Minister of Public Works stated yesterday that tho Governmedt had decided nob to accept any proposals for leasing the railways there was a chorus of " Hear, hears " from both sides of the House.

The Times, referring to the intermeddling of members of the House with railway management, says:—"lf anj fresh proof were needed of the urgent necessity that exists for emancipating the railways from political control, it would be found in abundance in the various order papers of the session. The order papers day after day have literally swarmed with questions and motions relative to matters of railway management, and all being , more or less in the direction of interference with details of working that ought to be left at the discretion of the authorities. The time and labour of Parliament are wasted, and the railway service is more or less mischievously affected. No undertaking , of the nuture of our railways can possibly be worked to full advantage when hampered by such conditions as at present.' . It expresses a hope that the Chief Commissioner of Railways will be shortly appointed. Later. I understand that Sir G. Grey will probably intercept Supply with an amendment, which will give an opportunity for ventilating Mr. Yaile's proposal for leasing the Auckland railways. The Post states that if Parliament is prorogued without insisting on knowing the composition of the new Railway Board, members will wake up to find the railways handed over to an irresponsible Board. It insists that a pledge should be obtained that the present general railway manager shall not have a seat on it.