RAILWAYS. VICTORIAN CHIEF COMMISSIONER INTERVIEWED. Auckland, June 24.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 380, 26 June 1889, Page 5

RAILWAYS. VICTORIAN CHIEF COMMISSIONER INTERVIEWED. Auckland, June 24.

Among the passengers by the mail sfceame: Mariposay which arrived from San Fran cisco on Saturday, was Mr Speight, Chie 1 Commissioner of Railways for S T ictoria,wh< has been to America on a tour of inspec tion of railways, and is now returning also Mr Goodchap, ex-Railway Com missioner of New, South Wales, who re signed that office when the railway* were put under control of a non political board, and who has since beet elected to the New South Wales Parlia> ment. During their brief stay in town both gentlemen put up at Mr .Gallagher's Imperial Hotel. Mr Speight was interviewed by a Star representative with the object of ascertaining his views on the American railroad system, as compared with those of the Old Country and the colonies. He did not think it would be right for him to enter into particulars. Mr Speight said that on his return to Melbourne s by the Mariposa he would not make any formal report to the Government. The railways there being managed by Commissioners, he would place what information he had obtained before his colleagues, and it would he for^ them and himself to adopt whatever course of action they deemed best. His attention was specially directed in the States to the methods of transporting fruit, dairy produce, and ooher perishables on the railways there. He was prepared fco recommend a system of traffic in Victoria which would vastly increase the productive area of dairies, and afford the- greatest facilities to farmers to increase the prosperity of the country districts. The American boudoir carriages should also be adopted for transcontinental travel in Australia. Speaking generally Mr Speight said that he had travelled over 15,000 miles of American railway, and observed their system ol management, particularly with regard to perishable produce. One of the difficulties they had to deal with in Australia was the conveyance by rail of perishable produce, owing to climatic influences. He found that the Americans had conditions of transit that were very similar to those which prevailed in Australia. It was his intention to utilise what he had obtained as to the American method of carrying perishable produce, because he was satisfied it was the best. Experience had taught the Americans what they should do in that direction, but in other respects they could learn a thing or two from Victoria. Mr Speight was asked to enter into particulars, but declined to do so, remarking that in this instance " comparisons would be odious." On being invited to speak of the respective merits of the railway systems of Ameiica and the Old Country, Mr Speight said the conditions were very different, the English railways being all managed on competitive lines, while in America they^ had special services between special places. Upon the main lines in America the boudoir service was a very nice mode of travelling, and enabled them to afford such facilities to the public as were not possible under the English system of compai'tment travelling. There were many things in connection with their principal services which could with advantage be adopted in Australia. Speaking of the appointment of Railway Commissioners, Mr Speight seemed interested in the appointment recently made by the Government ot this colony. He was asked whether he did not think that it would have been possible to have obtained a commissioner for this colony at £3,000 a year, the Government having 1 justified then appointment of Messrs McKerrow, Maxtvell, and Han nay by the statement that they could not get a railway expert outside the colony to accept of the appointment for the sum offered. Mr Speight said that it would no doubt be a difficult matter to secure at a salary of £3, G00 a man who had mature experience on English railways and whose position was determined by his experience there. No' doubt a man could be obtained to accept the post at the remuneration offered, but it was quite another question as to whether or not the appointment would prove advantageous to the colony. The interview terminated with the customary acknowledgments.