The Globe. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1062, 22 November 1877, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1877.

T.HM committee of tin* Assembly to whom the question, of railway management was referred have presented their report. It contains souk* very important and valuable recommendations for the future working of our railways. Passing over those having reference to the system of account, we may notice that the committee concur in the desirableness of obtaining in the colony as far as possible whatever railway material is needed on the lines. The classification of goods, which has from time to time caused so much discussion and difference of opinion, the committee consider necessary, subject of course to revision from time to time. The varying circumstances of different parts of the colony preventing a bard and fast uniformity, it is recommended lliat a discriminating charge having reference to distance and local circumstances should be made. Tin* three principal recommendations to which we need refer are. that railway tickets shall be pnrchaseable at shops or at the stations at anytime during office hours, that they should he available until used (except return or excursion), and that a scale of allowances should be adopted for railway employees in case of death or permanent incapacity for work. Tlie first of these is so manifestly a public convenience that there can be not the slightest objection to it. The obl-fasluoned way of driving a lot of passengers —some three or four minutes before tin* starting of a, train —into a, sort of sheep pen to hustle and fight for tickets is absurd in this age of improvement. There is no reason whatever for its retention, and all travellers will bail with satisfaction its being swept away. Tlie recommendation as to the ticket being available until used is somewhat startling in its novelty here, although it is the custom in America where they are half a century in advance of ns as regards conveniences for railway travelling. But though its novelty may he great, it cannot bo denied that it possesses many advantages, and is also only fair. The Government undertake to carry a person from say Christchurch to Dunedin for a certain sum. It is a perfect matter of indifference to them when lie performs the journey, except as a matter of account to keep a daily record. It may not he convenient lo him to go on the day he takes his ticket; why, therefore, should lie not be enabled to proceed on the following or any other day that suits him? We certainly see no valid reason, and therefore, as a step in advance, hope u> »sL>e this recommendation have a trial. Wl' have reserved perhaps the most important of tin* points of the report of the Committee (ill last. We refer to that in which they recommend allowances to railway employees in

case of death or permanent incapacity for work. This, it seems to us. jusl supplies what the Benefit Societies do Dot. The societies grant a certain sum per week during illness, and an amount at death.. But should the former bo continuous the allowance, of course, gradually decreases, and in ease of death tho allowance is swallowed up in expenses.

By this proposition tho railway employees will have (be society-pay during temporary incapacity, aipl should it prove permanent, then the Government allowance, calculated on the pay they receive, will ho available. This, it seems, is only an equitable proposition. The employees, from the very nature of their avocation, are regularly liable to accidents, and it is only right that their individual efforts to provide against these by forming societies should he supplemented by the Government. This part of the report will, wo hope, receive the earnest and favorable .consideration of the Government, as by its adoption they will only he doing an act ot justice to a hard-working and deserving body of public ueryauts.

After sumo loss of lift* and. innumerable hair-breadth escapes the City Council have framed a by-law to put a stop to the dangerous practice of driving at full speed round corners of streets. It is to he Imped that the by-law differs some\V'W from those enacted in days gone by. These wei'i. notable for (he ease with which they could bo .'.'jaded with impunity. This subject, however, j'J ono of such great public importance that we iiftni eyery precaution lias been taken to proven* 14® possibility of the by-law being rendered inoperative by the omission of some slight technicality, carelessness and reckless manner with which rhw drivers of licensed and other vehicles turn round the sharp corners in the most fretr.ieiiited thoroughfares has induced, astonishment that mere accidents have

not happened. Tic enactment of tiro bylaw does not therefore conic ono moment ton soon, and we only hope th;ib fin pro-j visions will bo stringently carried out. I It is somewhat to be regretted that the by-law committee whilst ou this subject did not include the crowing o{ bridge in

it, Tho .speed at win el i vehicles are driven across some of tin 1 city bridges, more particularly those without any side walks, is dangerous in the extreme. The least swerve of the horse crossing a bridge like that over the Avon at Colombo street, whilst several foot passengers were ) Missing, would result in serious loss of life. However, we are too thankful to have at last received some sort of protection from the recklessness of drivers to quarrel with the committee, and only venture to express a hope that means will be taken to carry out the provisions of the ry-law most rigidly.