RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2770, 9 August 1883, Page 3

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

(By TraEGBAPH.) Wblumgton, Aug. 8. IA deputation, cotnprißing Meiers J. Buchanan, Fergus, Ken, Macandrew, O'Callaghan, H. Thomion, Stereos, Turnbull, White, and Wright, waited upon the Premie* this morning upon the BUbjeot of railway management. . Mr Wright hating been appointed tvoket' man, laid that as resolutions agreed to by tne Committee had been placed m the band* of

the Premier on Monday, the present object of the deputation was to induce him if possible to giro the subject further consideration, m hopes he would see his way to introduce a Bill early the nex* session dealing with the question on the basis indicated m the resolutions. The Committee recoguised thai the subject was on* of vast importance and turrounded by some difficulties, and that it was not desirable that it should bs made a partj question. That it was of colonial importance and for the welfare of the colony whatever difficulties existed m the way of improved administration should be grappled with at once. That a strong argument m favor of tbe change proposed was found m the fact that nearly every Public Works Minister had at one time or other acknowledged that a Board of Mantgement was necessary, the two exceptions being Sir J. flail and Mr Oliver, who, nevertheless, went so far aa to admit that a Board of Advice was desirable. All these gentlemen bad doubtless felt that the political pressure brought to bear upon them from time to time was more than they coul'i resist with safety to the Ministry of which they were members, and saw at the same time that concessions forced from them were detrimental to publio interests. Tbe deputation wore of opinion that had the railways during tho last few years been under the control of a Board removed from direct political pressure, the colony would have saved ssveral hundreds of thousands of pounds expended upon unnecessary and unprofitable works. Owing to political pressure brought to bear from time to time, a few olamorous and persistent individuals obtained concessions at the cost of the many. If it was urged that mombors with votes m their pockets would atill exercise their influence m spite of the Board, it would be seen t!:at so long as tbe recommendations of the Board and those of membors coincided, the work might fairly be assumed to be necessary, and where they differed the decision of the Boad would be a complete answer to the application. The Committee had m view, amongst other matters, the desirability of lessening the friction now existing between the public and Government upon railway matters, which finds expression m endless questions and nolices of motion which crop up session after session and occupy so large a portion of the lime of the House m discussing matters frequently of trivial importance. A Board such as that proposed would be competent authority to dral with all grievances that ariie, and must arise from time to time between high railway officials and men unde r them, and who, having heard appeals would be abl* to protect aggrievrd patties, and no persecution would follow. For want of a competent Court of Appeal, tho grievances beoams like a smouldering fire of discontent, bursting into flames at every general election, and m too many cases determining the result. The deputation were also of opinion that railway officials, both high and low, wore m favor of the propoaed change, the latter as a security against oppression, partiality, or harsh treatment, and tbe former as security against sudden changes m tba political head of the Department, which filled them alternately m opposite directions, and prevented them from carrying into effect changes conducive to economy m administration. The Hon. Mr Wbitaker replied thai this subject had been discussed by Ministers from time to time for tho last three or four years. His own leanings were m favor of a Board, to which the principal objections were that the action of a Board might seriously affect the finances of the colony if exercised against the advice of the Ministry who were responsible for the credit of the colony and the taxation of the people. That probably this difficulty might be obviated by giving the Ministers m certain matters ft controlling power, and when they exercised this against the opinion of the Board the subject should be submitted to Parliament for their decision. That this power of Ministers would not bs often exercised and only on important occasions, such as whon finance or other large questions were involved, when Parliament would decide between the Ministers and the Board. Mr Wbitaker added that he wat expressing his own views only, but he would take care that during the recsss the subject should be fully considered with a view to legislation. At present there were some differences of opinion amongst the Ministers, that would probably be removed by more careful consideration and a free discussion, as they were not of a very pronounced oharacter. Xht following are the resolutions above referred to and which, after several meetings, were brought up as a recommendation from a sub-Committee consisting ef Messrs Wright, White, Macandrew, Thomson, and Fish, and approved by the General Committee : — " That it is expedient that the management of all Government railways open for trafllo throughout the colony should be vested m a Board." " That a Board consisting of five persons shall be appointed by the Governor, m the name or on behalf of Her Majesty (or by such other means as the House may determine), for the management of all constructed railways, tho property of the Crown, m the colony of New Zealand." " That any three members of suoh Board shall be competent to act m the execution of tbe powers rested m them, notwithstanding any vacanoy that may occur m the number of members constituting the Board." " That from and after the day upon whiob the Board begins to act all powers, rights and authority now vested m or exercised by the Minister for Publio Works, under the Public Works Act 1882, or byjvirtue of any other Act of Parliament, shall be transferred to, be vesled m and exercised by suoh Board of Railway Management as if the members of such Board had been named m the said Aot, subject nevertheless to suoh restrictions and limitations as from time to time may be imposed by the General Assembly." " That the members of the Board to be appointed shall hold office for five years, upon good behavior, and shall be removable therefrjm only upon an address to tbe Governor from both Houses of the General Assembly, presented during tbe same session of Parliament." " That no member shall be capable being a member of tbe Executive Council of either House of the General Assembly or of holding any office of trust or profit m the public service, other than his office as member of the Board." "That the Chairman of the Board shall be paid a clear annual salary of £ , and each other member of the Board a salary of £ , out of the Consolidated Fund." "That the Governor-in-Council may, when Parliament is not m session, suspend any member or members of the Board from his or their offices, but suoh suspension shall not continue m force beyond tha end of the next session of Parliament."