OUR RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 10

OUR RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Sir,—To an outsider it seems rather extraordinary that whereas, not only . the. professional doctor, lawyer, and . vclergyman, but .also tlio architect, engineer, accountant, and even the ■homely plumber have to undergo a preparation and pass an examination . to .prove them fit. for the several positions they desiro to' fill, any Tom, Dick, and Harry, without any previous preparation or proof of iitness may bo chosen 'to : hold 'important political Ministerial, positions, such as. Minister ' for Railways, Education, Klines, etc. No wonder our railway .system is a confusion ■ worse confounded with its unequal rates and unfair advantages . ior one part over another. Who taught thp present Minister for ltailways how to manage railways? What preparation did ho undergo to fit him for the pcsition? AVould it not be more satisfactory to import from Britain, a thoroughly experienced competent man who had already been manager of a large railway company, and ■who would therefore understand what he was doing from the beginning. Make him independent of the, ins and outs «f Parliament, but Parliament'having ito grants supplies-would have a cheek ■ over him. > Being a stranger he would 'have no preference for one part of the Dominion and ■■; mattera; inight. therefore', be arranged more fairly. Let him find out exactly what rate .. would; pay'interest on , money expended v.and working expenses, and fix that rate iat. so. much per mile all.over tho Doiminioh alike: Those linos that could mot pay fairly,, let their working expenses be reduced by running, fewer no favouritism. and no . privileges., - One' holidav season of two months, in summer from December .15 to February 15, when all trains everywhere • and 'for all distances," long or short, should run at half rates. Tho ■ present system of summer .holiday tickets is absurd. .-Unless,the traveller . can leave; his home on or before the ifirst of January he loses his holiday. Why should ho not bo able to Jake out . ' a<ticket any timo he likes during the holiday season, and for what distance he likes? • Why compel him to go ■twenty-miles"before ho. can avail himself of the cheaper rates? What sense ■ is. there in all that nonsense? Thepeo,plo'_s railway should bq run-for the con- : venienoo of the peoplo as a whole, not for a section. Employers and employees'.can't got.'away" at tho same time, and of course tho employer takes his. r chance, and sets aside' his employee • s who could .'also have his chanco if ho .could .take out his holiday ticket-on . . 'tho return, .of his -employer,. and get perhaps a couple.of weeks away with ■ his family. We, the employees, hope the Minister of Railways will see fit to alter the existing unfair holiday arrangements, before the commencement of tho next holiday season in Decemfeer;.'..■.Privileges and unfair arrangements ■ should not exist in the 'expenditure of iho people's money; it is giving away what is not theirs in a democratic country like ours. Thanking you ■ in anticipation, Mr. Editor, for tho ineertion of this letter,—l am, etc., A. BHEZT.