New Zealand Railways.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6899, 10 February 1894, Page 4

New Zealand Railways.

THE ARGUS ON THE NEW COMMIS

SIONFRS. Melbourne, Jan. 29.— The Argus of the 2/fcli devotes a leading article on the dismissal of Messrs Maxwell and Hannay, anrl says the course taken by the New Zealand Government m dealing with the Railway Commissioners of that colony is as erratic and almost as questionable as the example set elsewhere. When the Commissioner system was introduced, New Zealaud intended to folfow the precedent of Victoria by Walling a competent railway expert as Chairman, and selectiug two qualified laymen as the other Commissioners. But beintr disappointed of tie services of Mr Eddy° who was secured by New South Wales, the proposed amendment was waived. Mr M'Kerrow, Surveyor - General, who was recognised as one of the ablest officials of the colony, although ignorant of railway management, waa made Chief Commissioner, with the two principal officers of the Railway Department, Mr Maxwell, General Manager, and Mr Hannay, Traffic Manager, as his colleagues. Those who have watched the course of events since the railways were placed under this Board, will be inclined to say that however doubtful the experiment may have appeared at the outset, it has worked well. The Commissioners preserved their independence and their impartiality m the teeth of the most menacing pressure brought to bear upon them at the time of thestrike, immovably upholding the principle that the railways of the colony were not to be an instrument of the boycott ab the dictation of one particular class. Their attitude undoubtedly won them the approval of all who value firmness and rectitude m public affairs, bub did nob gratify m the same degree the Government, which allowed its laudable solicitude for the ■welfare of labor to blind it to the other important principle at stake. From that time there has seemingly been friction between the Ministry and the Commissioners. Mr Seddon, both as Minister for Public Works and Premier, has at various times not only threatened the independence of the Commissioners, but done his best to carry his threats into execution. A Bill to give the Minister a seat on the Board, and power practica'ly to override the Commissioners, iailed to pass Parliament, but the term of the original appointments having now expired, the Commissioners were delivered into the hands of the Government. At one time it was asserted that it was Mr Seddon'a intention to simply take back the railways under direct Government control, but that idea has Leen abandoned as a too risky challenge to public opinion. Instead, Mr McKerrow as Chairman is to be reappointed, bub the two experts — men probably as capable as, and certainly better tried than, any the colony can produce — are to be sacrficed to what looks lamentably like Minisneria l t>icjne. In their place one officer of the Railway service is to be appointed, and one member of a large private firm whose connection with railways m the past lias been limited to constructing engines to the order of the department. Extraordinary seems too mild a word to characterise the proceeding, which is evidently quite at variance with the intention of Parliament when the Board of Comnvssioners was established. That intention, it will of course be said, has proved impracticable, but it may be retorted that m New Zealand, as m Victoria, it has been the Government, not the Board, which has hampered the working of the Commissioners system.