THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1901, 8 June 1889, Page 3

THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS.

Mr T. McKenzh, M.H.R., for Maheno, in his address to his constituents said ho had no hesitation in saying that if Parliament had known that the Government would hand over this Immense property to three Government officials the bill would never have become law. However, unless the act was repealed, the three gentlemen who had been appointed would hold office for five years, provided (hey did not disbehave themselves, which was not very likely. The speaker had nothingeio say against the Chief Commissioner, Mr M'Kerrow, whom ho regarded as the most able offieer in the civil service, and who might in time make an excellent railway commissioner. Rut why should ho be 'saddled with two colleagues who had been in charge of the railways for several years, and whose management had been admitted to he bad? If Messrs Maxwell and tl.mnay had managed the railways well in the past, there would bo no necessity for the appointment of the present board. It seemed to the speaker that Mr Maxwell was too strong fer the Minister of Public Works, who had turned him over to Mr M'Kerrovv,hoping he would bo able to do something with him. In the speaker’s opinion, so long as Mr Maxwell was connected with the management, the railways would not be a success. The reason was he had no sympathy at all with the settlers of the countty. He would not go among the settlers. If he came to Waikouaiti ho would not speak to a single soul there. He was 100 autocratic. Let them point to a man who thought he had nothing to learn, and they pointed to a fool. Every man could learn till the day of hie.death, but Mr Maxwell was one of those men who thought they knew everything ; consequently he was a failure. The speaker did not wish to be hard on him. (Laughter.) A gentleman in speaking of Mr Maxwell to him (Mr M'Kenzie) said ho was in the wrong position altogether. He ought to bs prime minister to the Czrr of Russia. He would then hang his fellow beings by the hundred, and send them to Siberia by the thousand without the slightest feeling. If they took (he present express as an indication of what was to bo expected of the new commissioners, not much could be said in their favor. The speaker had met no one in the country whom it seemed to suit. It certainly did not aceommodate the public, and it was a sort of insult to twothirds of the settlers between Christchurch and Dunedin to see the train flying past them just for the convenience of two or three passengers,