The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 956, 18 July 1877, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 1877.

It is reported in well informed circles that it is the intention of the Colonial G-overnment to make yet further changes in the staff of the Canterbury Railways. It is stated that before long the services of Mr. Lawson will be dispensed with, and another Traffic Manager appointed in his place. We sincerely trust that the report is untrue. We have no hesitation in asserting that if such is the intention of the Government, they will commit the greatest blunder they have yet made. It is quite true that there has been a great outcry against the manner in which the railway traffic has of late been conducted. But Mr. Lawson is not to blame for that. Without the necessary appliances, no one could have done better than he has done. The mercantile community will agree with us when we say that Mr. Lawson has always endeavored to make the railways a great public convenience, and has exerted himself to the very utmost to facilitate traffic. Beyond the outcry regarding the want of trucks, there has not, till lately, been any general dissatisfaction with our railway management. But, L with the

transfer of our railways into the hands of the General Government a change has taken place. Blunder after blunder has been committed, till now there is considerable danger of the railway receipts being materially reduced. No one is more conscious of the fact, apparently, than the Minister for Public Works himself. The humiliating position in which he placed himself by telegraphing to the Hon. E. W. Stafford on the subject of the railway tariff, in order that the telegram might be read at the public meeting, proves the truth of our assertion. The recent changes have been made without proper inquiry, and with an utter want of judgment. Not only have the Government committed a blunder financially; they find that they have suddenly become very unpopular also. They have satisfied no one. The travelling community, the agricultural and mercantile interests, are all up in arms against the new tariff. {Some one must suffer—and we hear that Mr. Lawson is to be the victim. But we greatly mistake the temper of the Canterbury community if they will calmly stand by and see an innocent man sacrificed to official incapacity. Since the report regarding the intended change has got whispered about, great indignation has been expressed at its injustice. Alike for the sake of our railways, and the credit of the colony, we hope steps will be taken to make Ministers acquainted with public opinion on the subject in Canterbury. Our railways are far too valuable to be sacrificed in this manner. But if Mr. Lawson is dismissed, Government Avill not only have committed a crime, but a blunder. Leaving out of consideration the injustice of the act altogether, Mr. Lawson’s dismissal would make the Government more unpopular even than they are at present.

The Chairmen of a number of the Eoad Boards in Canterbury met yesterday for the purpose of considering the desirableness of making any alterations in the existing laws relating to Eoad Boards. We suppose some valuable hints may be obtained from the very contradictory and miscellaneous propositions laid before the meeting, but there was an absence of definite aim on the part of those gentlemen present, indicating very confused notions of the aim and object of the meeting. "We gather from the report, however, that on the whole the chairmen present seemed satisfied with the existing Acts relating to Eoad Boards, and accordingly passed the following resolution: —“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, the Canterbury Eoad Ordinance is sufficient for all purposes taken in connection ■with the Eating, Local Elections, and Public Works Acts. That the Government be therefore requested to employ the Canterbury Ordinance as largely as possible in the Eoads Act contemplated.” As might be expected from a meeting of Eoad Board chairmen, those gentlemen are evidently deeply impressed with the important functions performed by Eoad Boards, and jealous of any power which in any way interferes with their powers. It is needless therefore to say that the following resolution met with hearty support at their hands, and was carried : —“ That this meeting considers that there is no need for both County Councils and Eoad Boards having concurrent powers ; and that the latter, with extended powers, would be quite able to carry out effectively and economically the functions proposed to be executed by the County Councils.” But no sooner is the above resolution passed than its mover proceeds to propose another, which shall have the effect of stultifying its supporters. Having decided that Counties are unnecessary, his next proposition is that a representative from each Board in the provincial district shall meet at least twice a year in some central place to decide on all questions of administration which affect the whole provincial district, such as boundary roads, bridges, ferries, &c., and to decide any disputed points that may arise between any two or more Eoad Boards, the decision of the Central Eoad Board to be final. This is but the county system in another form, which Dr. Eayner had just succeeded in getting the meeting to condemn as unnecessary. After several amendments had been put, the resolution was carried in the following amended form : —“ That, in lieu of County Councils, one member of every Eoad Board in each providcial district should meet at least twice in each year, at some central place, to decide on all questions of administration which affect the whole provincial district, such as distribution of funds, bridges, ferries, drains, Ac., and to decide any disputed points that may arise between two or more Eoad Boards, the decision of the Central Board to be final.” But we must reserve further remarks on this subject till another day,