Felding Star. Publiched Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1893.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 35, 10 August 1893, Page 2

Felding Star. Publiched Daily. THURSD AY, AUGUST 10, 1893.

THE RAILWAY BILL,

Tho Government Railways Bill, the main features of which we published iv our last issue, is an attempt made to obtain political control over the railways. Since the present party have bceD iv power the fact of their being doprived of the patronage connected with tho railways has beeu a very sore point. From the very outset, the Hon. Mr tieddon declared war against the Commissioners. Instead of doing his best to assist these public servants in the execution of their duty, he has tried to hamper and worry them in every possible way. Fortunately for the country his attempts have failed owing to the firmness of tho Commissioners, aud the wise provisions of the Act under which they exercise their powers. If the Commissioners had failed iv their duty iv tho slightest particular they would have given the Hon Mr Seddon his opportunity, but he has been disappointed. It will be remembered by our readers, doubtless, that the late Kir Harry Atkinson gave as one of his reasons for removing the railway management from political control was that constituencies and members would be thus prevented bringing undue iufluenco te bear, iv order to get stations, etc., put in places of no general use, while being a cause of extra expense. Our Liberal Ministry have no such decency, for we are tola, unblushiagly, that Clause 9 of the new Bill authorises the Minister to determine situations for stations, etc., but, we are also told, ho shall first hear the advice of tho Commissioners. They may adviso, but he may do as ho likes. This is amusing, because tho Minister, who cannot under any circumstances be un expert, is to be given power to veto their recommendation, aud may therefore plant a station in any out of the way place— to buy a vote. The thing has been done before, and will be done again if tho people do not protest against the retrograde step proposed to be taken. Clause 10 has a sweet simplicity about it which reminds us of " The Heathen Chinee." It says the Minister nmy at uny time request the Commissioners to propose a scheme for increasing income or decreasing expenditure, and if he approves of it he may direct it to be carried out, or he may propose such a scheme himself and the matter shall be considered nt a meeting of the Commissioners. It will be observed, by reading between the lines, that the Commissioners arc to be mere ciphers of the Board, the Minister to be the controlling power, and him only. One thing gives us some hopey and that is that many of the supporters of the present Ministry are not likely to give blind allegiance to the Cabinet on this important measure.