THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2229, 18 July 1891, Page 3

THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS.

v *, t The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says: —"The 1,, Eailvvay Bill introduced by Mr Palmer [li gave rise to a discussion, the position ' of which I desire to place accurately "'-■ before your readers, because the fact ,„..;' of the Government withdrawing its , support from the proposed measure ■ may occasion, as it did here, some surprise. The Government does not support the Bill, and I have Ministerial autkority for saying that the groundsfor such abstinence are: (1) That the time is inopportune; (2) that the subject is too large to be dealt with by a private member's Bill; (3) that the /.Commissioners claim that time has not "been given them to make the changes referred to so often in the House; (4) that the subject must be dealt with in another way. When your readers consider the question fairly, I think they will agree with the Ministers that a subject of such magnitude ought to be approached with a more massive, or better organised, front than has yet ,"• been shown. There is no doubt—so - it is held here—that the Commissioners "" have mismanaged the whole affair in ' three ways : (1) They have shown no . solicitude to give work to the unemployed, and have sent Home orders that might been executed just as well in the colony, and that —considering the position of affairs in the colony—should have been so executed; (2) s they have shown; an entire lack of judicial ability in dealing, .with their and have apparently gone out of their way to irritate them and the community; . (3). they have exhibited, to say the least of it, disrespectfulness in their dealings with the'. Minister,- and, finally, they have itafcen up an autocratic position entirely out of accord with the "spirit of the - age," or the temper of the people, who are "determined on progressive and •equitable legislation. At. the same time, judging, from what has fallen from the lips of the Minister, the Government has—l think wisely—- ' decided that the question of an entire change in railway. , administration should be dealt with, in a more solid manner than by the Bill of Mr Jackson Palmer. I may mention, by the way, ~ that'the letter from the Knights of Labor of Christchurch, in which the Commissioners are roundly denounced for sending work out of the colony which i' might just as.well have been executed in the colony, the appliances being all , here' is one of the papers that the ' • Minister is charged by the friends of the Commissioners with withholding.