The Railway Management.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2022, 26 January 1887, Page 2

The Railway Management.

To the Editor of the Wairaram Standard

Sir,— Along with many others, I was very much disappointed that the railway manages ment, with its usual stupidity and utter dis. regard of the public interests or convenience, should not have run an early train from the Wairarapa to Wellington to enable tbe ciicketers and others to come down and have a whole day in Wellington. lam of opinion that the bead ot the railway management argues something after the following style ; —“ Those W airarapa people want a train to leave there early for their convenience ; now, will that be convenient for me ? No, certainly not, tbe railways are to be ran for my convenience, and to provide me with a good salary, and the peoples’ wishes not being in accord with my own, I shall not grant their request.” This appears to be tbe sum total of bow the mismansger of our railways arrives at bis conclusions and acts upon them. For dowmight donkey obstinacy and consequent pigheaded unreasonableness, commend me to tbe railway management. Tbe Minister of Public Works appears to have no say in the matter at all; or if be does say anything, I presume no notice is taken ol it The general public of New Zealand gave a sigh of relief when Mr Richardson took the ollice of Bolster of Public Works, under tbe fond lusian that matters would change tor the tier in our railway management, but it was , only a delusion at the best. It is said that it is far easier to do business with a knave than a fool , 1 should imagine that those who are at tbe bead of tbe railway management would sink into insignificance alongsideeitber, in point of dealing w ; 'b them. If we bad such a man pa your lumber, Mr Buchanan, or anyone with the same amount of practical knowledge, ability, and energy, we might look for tbe public interests being served ; but as we have not, some other course should be taken. In times past our forefathers used to combine together to enforce a recognition ol their rights even at tbe point of tbe sword. Cromwell, for instance, insisted on (he Long Parliament clearing out to make room for another. We have more peaceful means in our day of asserting our rights and achieving the same ends, and those should he taken advantage of by the public. We have tbe ballot box, and we can do a great deal by deputation and petition, I would suggest that the latter course be adopted, and that a monster petition be got up asking for tbe removal of this mismanage! of out railways. Unless some decided step of this kind is done, people might just as well save their breath to cool their porridge or their paper for other purposes than tronble about com municaling with the railway management asking for early trains, or any other concessions, I am, Ac., Colonial. Wellington, Jan 21, 1887.