THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. DUNEDIN PRESS ON THE APPOINTMENTS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 334, 16 January 1889, Page 4

THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. DUNEDIN PRESS ON THE APPOINTMENTS.

Dunjopin, Jan. 12. HisKjiiuiiNo to the constitution of the Railway Bouacl tho Times says : " We aro in. dined to think that in his now sphere Mr McKonow may prove fco possess qualities which lit him for the position but these arc at present undeveloped and unknown. Mi MoKerrow has no commercial or business Uainiuu:, and wo do not think wo are fur wrong in baying that tho country requiied fclio posso^ion of qualities resulting from bitch training in at least one ot tho Boaul. In tho appointment tho Government haveconimittod blunder number two in connection with their efforts 1o form a "Railway JJoarrl. Thoiv iust blunder was in vastiu^ time in their endeavour to obtain a Chief Commi"sioner at a salary which they weic w.imod over and over <if>ain was not Miiheiont to attract such a man ab the colony icquired. Had they promptly ic'co^ni^cd the position and increased tho to C 3,000, there xva& .at least one inau of acknowledged capacity who mighthave been secured, but he wa.s allowed to and subsequent eflortfa to obtain satisfactory applications weto unavailing. They now risk thn success of the new t>y-Lcni at its ver\ initiation by rkiiculously altering the constitution of thelJoaid from u hat had been oiir»umlly proposed. In thisdopaituic fiom t'u' previous intentions they inn btiai^lit\N.i> into a dani;oi of wliifih they lmvo been \\aincil. Tho m.ijoiity ot the people ot ciio colony i\orc pioloundly di'-naw.sllcd with the c\i.-.tinjr uian.i^enjent, and vciy .uspicious' thut ofiicial inlluence would .succeed in palmino oir tho ol<l mana^oment under a new name. We aio much ;d'iaid that i> i-xaetly wliat is going- to iiappen. Jnfetead of (jutting an entiioly new man with a ptionjr will and complef') cxptMicnce to take tho icnus and lnj-piro oonfideticc in the new le^inu'', tho Ch.iiim.ui of thu JJCMidJias. been solei-ted Horn fliu lanki ot oHict.ildom, and adverse out ici-.ni couitcd, and tlio btionyet-t aoub.s a-, to surce--. lnj^endeied. AYe would bj plea-ed ou>-.ehesto find that he has 1 iscn to the oc-ca-ion, and fli-ainied criticism by al>le coi.trol ot an iinpoilant bianoh of the public i?e:\ieo. Ol hi- follow commis^ionci^ we be!io\e me both croud men. Tho^e who bc-t know Mr Maxwell reco^ni-o his capacity and ab he will not ' now 1)0 bioii^lio into such 'lireot contact with tliose who&o gnevanccj. ha\c bern fot hi^ own comfoit, lathei too .- tiilly mel, the irritation t>o often atou^ed in Hie past will not be of 0 prominent a feature in the cutieiim of the adiniui--tration. Mi Hannay ha- hitlieito proved inmselt an cilicientsu-xant. and now that he has been advanced to a mweunpoitaut position wo may lea-onably hope toi de\elopme<st. of hiaalnutn tntiw t>enius. We toward tho constitution ot the J>oaid as. an injusti liable expeiiment and we shall await the i-^ue with some doubt. The " Star '" thinks C'omipi^ionoih should hiixc a lcasondble time in which to doxclop thcii t ulminibtiati\w ability.