Government Railway Bill.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 49, 23 August 1894, Page 2

Government Railway Bill.

IMPORTANT CHANGES. Wellington, August 22. The Railway Bill provides that a member of the Government shall be Commissioner of Railways, who shall have an original and casting vote, and preside over the meetings with the three other Commissioners. The Governor can suspend the Commissioners from office, which suspension can be confirmed at the subsequent session if Parliament do not adopt an address to the Governor to restore them to office. The power of taking land for railway and fixing sites for stations, etc., is now vested in the Minister for Public Works. All railway contracts for supplies to the amount of £100 and over are to be open for public tender, and the estimates of expenditure are to bo submitted to Government before presentation to Parliament. Salaries exceeding £300 are not to be increased without the approval of the Governor-in-Council. The Commissioners only are to grant leave of absence for short periods. An Appeal Board for each district is constituted, consisting of one Commissioner and five persons elected by the officers and servants of the railway service, who are to hear all appeals, except for fines inflicted upon officers and employees. The decision of the Board has to be approved by the Minister. Appeals re fines are to be heard by one Commissioner. On a resolution of either House at a future session that the Government railways be re-vested in the Queen, the Governor may fix a day, upon which such resolution shall take effect. Thereupon the Railway's Act, 1887, becomes repealed, and the Commissioners vacate office, but continue tor the residue of their term of office at the same rate of salaries as officers of the Railway Department. — Standard.