FLOUTED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 760, 8 March 1910, Page 4

FLOUTED.

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY, MDTtSTEE'S AKBITBAUY ACTION. (By Telegraph.—SDecial Corresnondentl Auckland, March 7. Strong exception is taken hero to the attitude of the Hon. E. M'Kenzie the Cabinet over the North Auckland railway. Some time ago the Minister for Public .Works took it upon himself to reverse the decision of the engineers regarding the route of the North Auckland railway between Kaiwaka and Hokianga, deciding on a route to the westward vof that originally planned, ant l, running the line'down to the tidal.water* of the Kaipara Harbour. A .commission was granted to inquire into the matter, but only as regards the route north ol a place known as M'Carroll's Gap, whereas the Minister had authorised a most important departure from the route south of that point, and it is-a mystery to the people of the eastern side as to what grounds he had for the action. An agitation to have the scope of the commission widened to include the southern portion was started, but the Minister at once hurried the works on, and now Cabinet has refused the request, which waa backed up by the Auckland Eailways League, the Chamber of ■ Commeroe, and u» press. It may be mentioned 'that the former route took the line into ■ the .Marsden electorate represented in Parliament by- an Oppositionist, whereas 1 the route adopted by the Minister takes the line to the Government electorate of Kaipara., The Minister, who ; was utterly unfamiliar with anything like a comprehensive area of the territory concerned, took a flying tour, through it, and has how,'set up his judgment .against 'the opinions of men like Uie Hon. E. Mitchelson, who knows the country well, and whose interests 'really are' located along the new route, but' who condemns the deviation.

"ifwald" editorially states 'the position this morning, and says: "To the influentially-signed petition forwarded from this district, asking that; the commission might inquire into the proposed' route of the railway south of M'Carroll'a Gap Sir Joseph Ward has replied declining to accede to ' this reasonable request of the. memorialists. " In othei words Mr.'Mlvenzie has had -his own way.: He has been allowed to flout a very considerable section of public opinion in this particular matter, and to dominate the Cabinet.' ■ Having regard, to all the circumstances of the case it is inconceivable that the Prime Minister should haVe adopted his present attitude except on, the hypothesis that Mr. M'Kenzie made the defoand: for an inquiry into. a route 'which he had arbitrarily fixed a personal matter, and thereby placed; tho head of the Government in aii awkward and delicate position. But there are questions' involved in this case which far outweigh in importance, any considerations of a purely personal character.. The route' in dispute was decided by Mr; M'Kenzie upon his own authority. It was decided, moreover, in tho absence of sufficient: data and in opposition to the - recommendation' ot' the Governments own. engineers. In order that the decision might be securely fixed as final the work of construction was hastily begun, and, thousands of pounds have already been expended. The case raises the question of Ministerial au-' thority and we;shall be very'much surprised "if Parliament 'allows it to .pass unchallenged. If Mr. M'Kenzie' or any other Minister can, of his own will, decide which .way- a railway, is to go, regardless alike of local feeling and expert engineering advice, • Parliamentary government- becomes a farce. Although, the Prime Minister has refused to allow Mr. M'Kenzie's decision' to como within ,the i scope of the Boval Commission, • the matter cannot .be allowed to rest where it is." ■ •, ...