THE REMOVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER OF RAILWAYS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1777, 31 October 1879, Page 2

THE REMOVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER OF RAILWAYS.

[By TBLEaEAPn.] WELLINGTON, October 30. Correspondence relative to the location of the Commissioner of Railways Office in the Middle Island was published to-day. It opens with a letter from Mr J. S. Webb, Secretary of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, dated July 25th, enclosing a resolution from the Chamber, contending that the Commissioner of Railways was only temporarily removed to Christchurch for certain objects, which have been attained. Appended are resolutions of the Dunedin Chamber numerously signed. Mr O. W. Turner, President of the Canterbury Chamber, forwards on July 28th a telegram to the Minister of Works, stating that the committees of the Chamber submit that experience has fully justified the wisdom of the settlement of the Commissioner’s office at Christchurch. The Dunedin secretary writes on Bth August last, transmitting a copy of a petition, and requesting an enquiry during the recess. The memo, for the Minister of Works by the Commissioner of Railways on 16th August, deals seriatim with the reasons urged in the Dunedin petition. He says it cannot be denied his removal to Christchurch was avowedly temporary, and having reorganised the business and arrangements of the railways it might be assumed that his special duty was at an end. Regarding the statement that Dunedin is the geographical centre of the railway system, he defines the position of Christchurch in respect to the railway system. He thinks the time may come when Christchurch, by the extension of the railway system to the extreme north of the island will assume a more central position, but the contingency is too remote to be a proper element for consideration of the question at present. Taking the system as it now exists, Christchurch is at one end, but, owing to the sharp curves and heavy gradients of the Dunedin section, it requires vigilant supervision. He does not prove it advisable that he should be located at Dunedin. He does not express an opinion whether the want of increased and improved station accommodation at Dunedin would be remedied by tbe presence of the Commissioner there. He says however, that Christchurch is superior to any place in the colony in _ respect to railway station accommodation and equal, if not superior, to the best in the neighboring colonies and the same thing may be said c£ Lyttelton in comparison with Port Chalmers. He is not prepared to express an opinion on the deduction drawn by the Dundin Chamber regarding the excess of mileage on the Southern railways, as compared with the Northern. With regard to removal of the local paymasters, he says, “ the localisation of the pay office in Christchurch was no part of the system of centralisation. Tne concentration of the pay business in Christchurch is the natural and inevitable outcome of existing ciroumotance, and would have been effected long ago had ho not been disinclined to make any step calculated to prejudice the interests of old servants of the department ; but the paymaster, the accountant, and the store-manager, with their respective staffs,'’ should be located at the head-quarters of administration. He says _ it _ would not become him in a matter or this kind to venture upon a recommendation. On Bth September Mr Geo. Stead, President of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, writes to the Minister of Works, enclosing a resolution of that body. He adds that the Chamber concurs in the view expressed by Mr Maoandrew, that the subject of the removal of tbe Commissioner

should not be made an elective cry. TheChamber is confident that a proper inquiry will (how Christchurch to be the proper centre, and that tho reorganisation of the lines centreing in Dunedin may be efficiently carried out by the Commissioner occasionally visiting Dunedin. Figures are appended, showing that the Canterbury portions of the Middle Island Railways are by far the most profitable.