DEMOCRACY AND RAILWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1931, Page 12

DEMOCRACY AND RAILWAYS

In the districts affected there will probably be somo resentment/of the action of the House of Representatives in endorsing the Railway Board's recommendation to stop construction of new lines. But otherwise throughout Mew Zealand—and all- the Dominion is really affected by the decision—there will be gratification'that a majority of members have had the courage to support the Board,, though this, support meant an apparent reversal of previous declarations; As the Prime Minister rightly pointed out, times and conditions have changed, and y works and losses which might have been acceptable when the, country could risk a loss are now out' of the question. When the Government is hunting everywhere for means of saving it would be extremely foolish deliberately to continue schemes which mean losing. There is also this change since the promises for railway construction were made: An independent and capable Board has made a thorough investigation. We believe that the people of New Zealand generally will approve the action of the House in endorsing a recommendation based upon an investigation uninfluenced by votes or political considerations.

Some advocates of construction claimed that acceptance of the Board's decision, and even the establishment of the Board, were contrary to democratic principles; that it was wrong to give the decision of this issue to half-a-dozen men who were not elected. But if it is to be argued that the elected representatives of the people must decide everything without expert assistance or any delegation of responsibility, democracy becomes an unworkable farce. Democracy can survive only if elected members recognise their own limitations. In this case there has been such recognition, and the country will be relieved to know that Parliament, having committed the control of the Railways to a competent body, has abstained from reversing the first important- decision made by the Board. The intention announced by the Minister of Public Works, to. make other provision for the men engaged removes one of the principal objections evidently held by the Labour Party to the stoppage. The Government has also promised that the work so far clone will be left in good order. If transport control or Other considerations hereafter warrant a review of the decision that review can be made. But we trust that no review will take the form of offsetting considered expert, judgment by political influence.