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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3823, 17 October 1883, Page 2

Ministers were to havo hold a Cabinet meeting to-day. Certainly one of the subjects that demands tlio serious attention of the Government is in relation to the working of the Public Works Department. Noirly all the complaints that are maio with reject to the conduct of railways may be attributed to tho system that has either been initial el or intensified since tho Hon. Mr Johnston joined the Ministry. Under that system local heads of departments aro permitted no margin of authority whatever, and nothing can bo done of tho most trifling character without the express sanction of tho Wellington head-centre. If anything, no matter how serious and demanding instant attention, were to happen on tho railway, to the line, or to the bridges, all local action would be paralysed hero until the matter had beon reported to headquarters and instructions issued to act. A miserable system of degrading espionage has also been instituted, under which all officers and employes spy and report upon each other, and a most reckless disregard has recently been shown as to whether somo of the best officers in the servico should bo got rid of altogether. Under these eircum-* stances it may well bo imagined that tho greatest discontent prevails, and that thero is a general opinion that the '' service is going to the dogs."