Railway Rolling Stock.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5022, 7 June 1884, Page 3

Railway Rolling Stock.

«> TO THH EDITOR OP THE STAB. Sib, — At a meeting of the Industrial .Association, Mr Howlancl spoke of the advisability of the rolling stock and all .other machinery being made in the Colony (as far ns possible) and let by tender. He also said it was not fair for the Government to carry on buaines3 in opposition to private enterprise. Most peoplo will conclude that, a3 the Government have imported excellent machinery at great expense, it is very necessary they should do all the work they possibly can to keep that machinery going. Again, Mr Howland says the Government having control of the public purse could pay almost any price for skilled labour ; but if Mr Howland's men aro paid lower wages than the same class of men in the Addington shops they won't consider themselves very highly paid. No doubt it would be a good thing for the Colony if all the work required by the rail■wrays could be done in the Colony; but that it would be better that it should be clone by private firms than by the Government is open to question — as far as the -working class is concerned, at any rate. Piecework would probably be introduced ; an evil which some of us know something of by bitter experience of its working in the Old Country. — I am, &c, AN OBSERVER.