The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1889. The Railway Commissioners

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 97, 21 February 1889, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1889. The Railway Commissioners

The gentlemen who have heen appointed to the control of the railway system of the colony, do not appear to be altogether awa.ro of the powers vested in them by the Government Railways Act 1887, or they are diffident in exercising them. An instance in proof pi this opinion was given in Auckland the other day when, in reply to a request of certain settlers for a in the matter of the Waikato train services, Mr Maxwell said he could not undertake to do anything in the direction indicated without first obtaining an expression of opinion from Ministers or Parliament. As Mr Maxwell appears invariably to be the spokesman for the Commissioners, we may accept this remarkable statement as emanating from^' them collectively. Most people who thought at all on the subject of the railway reform which was to follow the passing of the Government Railways Act, 1887, were under the impression that this Act was intended to remove railway affairs entirely from Government or political influence of any kind whatever. It would appear that they were mistaken, if Mr Maxwell was reported correctly. It is mere than probable an explanation may be found in that the Commissioners, having spent the best years of their lives under the direct or indireet command of official superiors on whom all responsibility rested — having some one to lean upon in fact — cannot realise that thoy are now — to all intents and purposes- - a law unto themselves and beyond official control. When Mr Maxwell was sole autocrat of railways, aud the Minister for Public Works of tbe day was merely a political " Jorkins," he was brave as a lion, and despised public opinion, but now that he is deprived of his " Jorkins," and consequently of his leaning post, he is turning out to be but a timid sort of roarer after all, We regret all the more to make this discovery because we have always in the past given him credit for the courage of his opinions, even although those opinions were deficient in common sense and justice to the public. A careful perusal of the Act does not discover that the Commissioners are entitled even to ask the advice of Ministers on any matter connected with the management of railways, clause 20 provideing that " All powers. conferred upon Her Majesty, or the Governor in Council, or the Governor or the Minister under or by virtue of ' The Public Works Act, 1882,' or its amendments, ... or any special Act so far as any such Act respectively relates to the management, working, and maintenance of railways, and all matters or things done or to be done, and all rights and privileges accrued, or accruing under or by virtue of such Act, shall be exercised, enforced, and enjoyed by the Commissioners in the same way as Her Majesty, or the Governor, or Minister might have exercised, enforced, or enjoyed, the same way, but for the passing of this Act, and with respect thereto the Commissioners shall be substituted for Her Majesty, or the Governor, or the Minister, as the case may be ; provided that in carrying out the powers conferred upon them by this clause the Commissioners shall, in fixing the scale of -rates and charges, give due consideration to the promotion of settlement aud the encouragement of industries in the vicinity of the railways." This quotation shows there is no reservation of any kind whatever, and the conclusion it assists us to arrive at is that where Mr Maxwell was won't to bully in the past he will shuffle in the future wheu asked to do anything for the " promotion of settlement and the encouragement of industries," unless it happens to fit in with his peculiar ideas on the management of railways. When the three gentlemen who are now Commission- ! ers, were appointed, we foretold that Mr Maxwell would be the real chief and results are already justifying the prophecy.