THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS AT KAIAPOI.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1534, 16 April 1887, Page 2

THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS AT KAIAPOI.

The Minister for Public Works addressed a meeting of bis constituents at Kaiapoi last evening. Iv his speeoh he dealt principally with railway matters He said thas he was convinced that one Railway Board on the Victorian plan would tend .to centralis9 everything m Wellington more than the present system. He had prepared a Bill on lines similar to those adopted In Germany. It provided for three boarda, one for AuoklaDd district, one for Napier, Wellington, and Taranaki, and one for the South Island, the members to be elected by the Chambers of Commerce, the Mayors of boroughe, and the chairmen of County Councils. Kaoh Board would Bit daring the recess ; that for the Auckland distriot m Auckland twice a year, and oftener if n'ceuaary ; that for the central district m Wellington, Wanganul, and Napier, or such other places as necessary, three times a year. That for the South Island at least once at Christchurch, Dunedin, aud Invercargill, the Minister of Works or such officer on the Kailway staff as he might direct to attend each meeting to give information, the Minister to act on the Board's recommendations if he deems fit, but all recommendations to be reported to the House, and the Minister to give a reason for not acting on them. The Boards are to hear all complaints as to rates or against the conduct of officers. He showed that railways m New Zealand are worked as economically as the railways of other countries, taking into consideration the different conditions of thi3 colony. The reduction m the railway rates had affected the revenue to the exient of £50,000 per year The falling off m traffic was attributable to the enormouß deoresso m the production of the prinoipal articles whioh the railway returns depanded upon. The receipts, however, wore now largely increasing, and there wt s every promise of a better result for the current year. It ■would be very unwise to change the present baala of railway charges. A vote of thanks and confidence were passed.