WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12638, 16 April 1903, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(Fhom Onn Own Cobhesposdest.) I WELLINGTON, April IS. f Tho last lias not yet been heard of the ~ decision of the Judicial Committee of the i Privy Council in the case of Wallis and the t New Zoaland Solicitor-general, or, as it 13 sometimes called, the Porirua Trust case. Boforo many days have passed I anticipate , that a severely condemnatory pronouncement will ho made from tho New Zealand 1 Court of Appeal Hunch showing that tho > Lords of the Privy Council have fallen into ■ serious error in their reading of tho New - Zealand law. It will bo held that in tho i case under review they have made a serious l blundor, and the criticism of their ignoranco i regarding certain points in connection with. t ftow Zealand law is likely to be a very severe one, I understand that more than ono member of the Appeal Court Bench will deal with tho matter. Tho position is , a somewhat unique and interesting one, and . tho immediate (developments will no doubt be awaited, with considerable- interest. I Several members aio embarking here to- . night in the Mapourika to take nart in tho . parliamentary excursion to tho South Sea ; Islands. Mr George Fisher, who arrived from the couth to-day much improved in t health, will join tho party. Tho t-ri-n is apparently not regarded with favour" by many of tho public, for when Mr Barber, M.H.R. and City Councillor, apologised to ' his audience last evening for Ins early and probablo only appearance in tho coming municipal campaign, explaining that he was to-day intending to make a 'little trip to the Cook Islands with the parliamentary party, thero were cries of "Oh, oh!" One of the audience- asked; "Are 3'ou paying your own expensos?" whereat. thcro was much laughter. Councillor Barber replied that ho was participating in tho trip at the . invitation of tho Government, and hoped as a result to bo in a position to say when he returned whether or not the Islands wore worth annexing. Mr Kinsella.'tho Now Zealand Dairy Commissioner, who gets £415 per annum from our Government, and has been offered ££00 per annum by the Transvaal Government to fill a simitar position thore, is likely to accept tho latter offer. Mr Samuel Vaile, referring to a recent series of articles on the New Zealand railways by a critic signing himself "Fishplate, and published in tho Post, writes: "I am to find that 'Fishplate,' Sir William Russell, and myself all agree as to how tho railway accounts ought to be taken. The item of £71,593 in 1902, for services rendered to other departments,' seems to have escaped 'Fishplate's' notice. This item is (rated, as revenue actually earned, but it is clear that no money passed and that it was merely 'an adjustment of accounfe.' If ' FiehplatoV figures aro pieced together and this sum added to them it will bo found that ho make* tho loss on our railways last year £1,006,095. I place it at £1,007,095. There is, therefore, a difference of only £1000 between us." On •tho question of " Charging to capital," Mr Vaile states that a very interesting discussion has quite recently taken plaeo between English and American railway experts. It will be found in tho September 1902, file of tho London Times, -tho best man on both sides," he writes, " agree with me that all those items which we now pay for out of capital under tho heading 'Additions to Open Lines'! ought to be paid for out of revenue The object of charging to capital is, of course, I to make it appear that a larger rate of 1 interest was earned. Last voar it was' necessary to do this to the extent of £777,989 j in order to make it appsar that our railways' earned .£3 8s 6d per cent., when, as a matter ' of fact, tlioy did not earn ono penny of I interest—not even working expenses." "11 think," he continues, "we have now abundant evidence that our abominable no-system of railway administration has completely . broken down, and that we must have a radical change of policy if tho country is to bo saved from financial disaster. Unfortunately, so far, wo have been engaged in I a wild scramble as to which province shall j secure- tho largest share of expenditure in railway construction. Tho result is that up I to tho 31sb March, 1902, tho southern end of i the South Island had secured £53 9s 2|d out of every £100 expended, and their share : I will bo still greater at tho ond of March last. I warn my southern friends that they aro working out their own destruction-. If somo great change is not made soon tho Otago Central, tho Midland, and many branch lines will have to be closed. Threefourths of tho colony will not much longer consent to pay for the heavy lo>s made by tho other fourth. Taking interest at 4 per cent, only, tho actual loss made on cur railway investments during tho last six years was £2,872,883. The loss on working our railways increases rapidly year by year. The more money wo invest the more paying points—save tho mark!—wo reach the greater th© loss. The increase of loss—tho increase only—during tho last six years on tho Auckland section was from £2999 in 1897 over 1896, to £39,580 in 1802 ovw the loss made in 1901; on tho 'Wollington-Ta.ranaki-Hawke's Hay section, from £91,110 in 1898 to £438,462 in 1902; an tho Hurunui-Bluff section from £29,270 in 1897 to £381,467 in 1902. Suroly, if any railway system has reached paying points it is tho two last systems. Yet there wo make our greatest and most rapidly-increasing loss. This is conclusive proof that tho policy pursued must bo wrong. I again say that never in our history has our railway administration been so disastrous as during the last six years, and more particularly during the last thrco years." In connection with tho bankruptcy of Mr D. P. Fishor, an ex-member of (he Board of Conciliation, an interesting sidelight revealed a considerable decadence in the matter of conciliation in connection with local labour disputes. Mr Fisher stated that his earnings as a member of tho board had boon £150 for 1900, £187 for 1901, and £32 for 1902. ■