RAILWAYS AND COMMISSIONERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 574, 31 July 1909, Page 10

RAILWAYS AND COMMISSIONERS.

:-Sir,—l noticed in this ,morning's, issuo. of The Dominion an account of an interview witli Mr. Beauchamp after his travels. Mr. Boauohamp expresses a > great deal of; praise of: the' way .the ■. railways in Victoria are managed by tho Commissioners;.' I have often noticed r acoounts of. interviews- with tourists,,and then' compared them with the newspapers of the countries travelled in. One is generally in contradiction to the other, I would like to ask Mr. Beauchamp if he read- the report in the Melbourne "Age,' July 15, 1909, re tho unsatisfactory state of affairs over the n6w railway station in Flindors Street. : ' Just to enlighten.' the readers of your paper, I will give a'short account of what has'happened oyer there.' A contract was let by tho Commissioners for a new railway-station at Flinders Street for £.440,000. On June 3, the Commissioners reported that an additional expenditure of £59,302,' exclusive of the general allowance of 10 per cent;, ,would 'he 'required' before the work could. be completed. . Blunder No. 1. At' one' time a- statement ..of accounts was made outj , which showed the state of every line in ' the' country. s This has been discontinued for some' reason or other, and now the Commissioners say they do not know how much money is sunk' in, the suburban system. Could: anyone' - conceive _ such blunders? I cannot understand men jumping at conclusions about a system, because there happens to be nice comfortable cars for sleeping, ete. It is all very well having these sort of things, but' are the Victoriin railways paying as well as our own, 'under the Government? I would advise your readers to get the "Age" of July 15, and read the account of the muddle the Commissioners are in. Thanking you ill anticipation for inserting letter.—lam, etc., , • -,'"V . . PLAIN FACTS. July 23. ' -

Some days ago a - correspondent wrote pointing out the need of an additional doctor in the vicinity of Eltham. A'seoond correspondent has now written with a view to supplying that .need. AVo should bo glad to placo our original correspondent in touch with our later contributor should the" former offer no;objection. : ■ , ■ '■