THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RAILWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9762, 12 June 1893, Page 3

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RAILWAYS.

The following is the circular signed by Mr John Grigg, president of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, referred to iv our leading article : —

At a meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, held cm Thursday, June 8, the following resolutions were adopted, viz. :— "That the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association is of opinion that the railways should continue to be managed as at present—viz., by commissioners,—and strongly objects to their being placed under political control, and for the following reasons—the first economical, and the second a political " Practically, it was admitted by all political parties that management by the Government of the day had been a failure, inasmuch as expert knowledge was absolutely necessary to the ecouomical management, also that a continuous policy was equally necessary, and both these conditions are obtained under the commissioners. "Politically, the present system was the outcome of 'wise mistrust of themselves by the people' and the conviction that party government could not best manage a system bo involved as the Railway department. " The proposal to give the power to veto the decisions of practical railway experts to a Minister who may be totally unacquainted with the management of railways seems inconsistent and impracticable. Experience of past Governments has proved the truth of this conclusion." '' That the freedom and liberties of the railway employes would be seriously menaced under any mode of direct political control; but under the present system the employes would continue to receive more equal and unbiased treatment, as they are now by the requirement of the act to be judged by no other considerations than that of their qualifications and energy in the servics." " That the continual applications to members of Parliament to obtain some local and personal advantage had bscome so objectionable that all parties readily joined to get rid of the evil. That several colonies other than New Zealand had been forced to the same conclusion."