THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 11

THE WEEK.

RAILWAY BOARDS. I jE dissatisfaction with the present managee nfc of our railways is so wide spread and rs lstent, and the results obtained under|this anagement so poor, that it is only natural at the public mind should be set upon the [option of the non-political board system of anagement, which has worked such a on derful change in the sister Colony of |C toria. We have more than once expressed ir doubts as to whether full justice is done the present atlministration of oitr railways, |)ich has fallen bn evil days of late, and has id a very uphill battle to light. But none n doubt that political control is a great, istacle to their efficient management, and U reasonable to suppose that a manager of ,c calibre and experience of Mr Speight ou lcl be able to effect very considerable lD rovement. The Victorian Board, as we ive often pointed out. is very far from ing as free from political control as is nerally supposed, and a perusal of the ,11 luid on the table of the House by Mr itcheisoh shows that the Government opose to carry the non-political principle noli further than in that Colony. Such a easuro marks an entirely new departure in neral constitutional policy as well as in the actical management of the railways. We ast, therefore, that its full bearing will be alised, and its particular provisions exposed ,keen criticism in debate, before the Bill ,ssgs into law. With a view to making the iblic understand what it is proposed to do, c shall therefore briefly summarise the main ■ovisions of the Bill, leaving criticism over r the present. A Board of three Commissioners is to be instituted as a body corporate, the members 'which are to hold office for five years but ,11 be eligible for reappointment. The , ; mmissioners are to be nominated by the jvernor-in-Council, and one of them specially as Chief Commissioner. They arc •ohibitcd from engaging in any employcnt outside the duties of their office, and t> declared to be subject to heavy penalties concerned or interested in any contract or ireement made by or on behalf of the oard. The railways are to be absolutely ■steel in the Commissioners, who will have 1 the powers now possessed by the Minister [Public Works in respect of railways open irtraflic. The Governor may further emjwer them to construct railways, and ?legate to them all his powers in that be30f. They are to maintain the running nes in a state of efficiency, reconstruct or itend them where i necessary, fix sites for ations and erect the same, keep the rolling ock up to the mark both as to effectiveness id quantity. They may make contracts for iv works in connection with the railways, ill, in. short, they will have equal if not iperior powers to the board of directors of private company. All moneys approiated by Parliament for the maintenance, inagement, &c. of the working railways ill be at their disposal; and they may >. impressed with such advances as may be Mil time to time necessary. They may ike and alter bye-laws from time to time t regulating goods and passenger traffic, ■A fixing rates and fares, &c, and it is roposcd to give them specific power to ipose differential charges upon any line r branch of a line, to issue free passes and went any abuse of the same. The apjintment of all railway employes from le highest to the lowest will vest in the ommispioners, who may appoint, without id preliminary examination required from lembers of the Civil Service, persons posted of special qualifications. Every perm appointed to any grade of permarnent nployment will be required to effect an isurance on his life of agree to a deduction j E his pay to create a retiring fund. Vacancy in the department are to be filled by :nioi'ity, but no officer is to be passed over nlcss the head of his branch advise the timmissioners to that effect. Security is ) be taken fiom all officers and employes ho have the handling of money, and any I them who are detected taking tips from wengcrs or transmitters of goods will not ily lose their appointments but may be :osecutcd.[for misdemeanor. Persons eraloved on' the railways in any capacity inity of misconduct,, drunk on duty, or ho commit breaches of the bye-laws, or ltough wilful or malicious neglect imperil stuan life or limb, are to be liable to six lonths' imprisonment with hard labour or a ne not exceeding £50 on conviction in any lagistratc's Court. All new appointments, Kept as noted above, are to be made to !ic lowest grade in each of the various ranches of the railway , service for period not exceeding twelve months on robation only. The Commissioners have ill power to dispense with the services of ny officer or employe ; may reduce in rank » breach of bye-laws or misconduct, or susend for a period of six months without tfary. Their decision is to be final, but bey may relieve a case on special appeal if atisfied there are any grounds for such a our&e. Kecorded particulars of railway ?rvices are to be kept for reference. The 'ill provides that the Commissioners are to repare an annual report for presentation to 'arliaraent within a month after the opening » the session of Parliament in each year ; in Ms they are to set forth a complete account Del balance sheet of the moneys received id expended on the railways ; everything tat may have been done in the way of conduction of works and the general details of heir administration. They are further to resent an estimate of the receipts and xpenditure for the incoming financial ear. It will be seen from this mere sketch of ta leading features of the Bill that it resnibles the first of those prepared by the He Minister of Railways and Public Works i many details, but "is a great improvement thereupon in that there is to be only n e Board of Commissioners instead of, hree as proposed by Mr Eichardson. His cheinc was that the Colony should be Hided into three railway districts— the 'orthern, Central, and Southern — with

separate board and si aft' of management for each, which would have entailed onfusion and very considerable expense. his really, we believe, had a good deal to do ''|h the Bill falling stillborn as it did, Ejections being naturally felt at the creaon of so largo a number of new offices,

Gome very highly paid; which. would have" been entailed. Tile present Bili Wbttld seertl j to be simple in construction, Una the' hevV j system can be established without unreasonable cost ; but it does not make .provision for Boards of Conciliation, as proposed by Mr E. Richardson at the beginning of the y ea r — a feature which we are inclined to regard as valuable and capable of being grafted on to the present proposals, A great deal, in fact we may say everything, of the success of the new system must depend upon the judicious selection, of the Chief Commissioner, tvho must be a man like Mr Speight in Victoria; thdrougtily experienced in railway management; and who has what i§ understood as " a stiff back," so that once appointed he will act independently of Ministerial, Parliamentary, or other influences. There ought to be no difficulty in finding such a man if equal inducement is offered; and we trust that in making the appointments of the other two Commissioners the Government will look to real qualifications and not confer them as political rewards or throw them as sops to Parliamentary opponents. Such things have been in times past!