CABINET V. COMMISSIONERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1116, 2 May 1911, Page 5

CABINET V. COMMISSIONERS.

« NEW SOUTH WALES RAILWAYS. By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrieUt Sydney, Hay 1. Speaking at Bathurst, Mr. Beeby, New South Wales Minister for Public Works ami Education, said he aud some other members uf the Ministry were of the opinion that Parliament should have control of matters of policy in connection with the railways. Such powers had hitherto been solely in the hands of the Commissioners. The New South Wales railways have been under tho control of a board of three commissioners for more than twenty years. In 1850 tho Sydney Railway Company began the construction of the first line in New South Wales, but as the company soon became insolvent. the Government stepped in, took over its properties, end placed the control of the railway in the hands of a board of con-missioners. Tho Board of Commissioners was to a great extent independent of the Government of tho day, but on December 1, 185S, a ne.v Act came into - force which substituted ono commissioner for tho board, and also placed the railways under direct political control. The Railways Act of 1858 was repealed by a new Act which came into force on October 22, 1888. Under it the working of the railways was removed from political control, and tho management vested in three railway commissioners, each appointed for a period of seven years. In 190G an amending Act was passed, which provided for the appointment of a chief commissioner with supremo power, nil assistant commissioner for railways, ami an assistant commissioner for tramways. The Victorian railways have been undor the control of commissioners since IS9G, and the Queensland and South Australian railways were removed from political control so long ago as 1888. Tho West Australian railways are managed by a singlo commissioner, who holds extensive powers.