SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 1894. THE RAILWAY BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4824, 13 September 1894, Page 2

SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 1894. THE RAILWAY BILL.

Tub Railway Bill with Mr Seddon as its pilot Engine is bound to go through. Already Mr Seddon has done what mischief may be done in tlieway of impairing the administration of our lines, and possibly beyond the loss that always follows radical changes, he will do but little more injury to tho service, In theory the railways ought to be controlled by the Government, but in pratice it has been found that they' are better managed by an independent Board. We should not on principle object to the resumption of Ministerial control, provided that we could "depend upon an honest administration. On this we, unfortunately, cannot rely, because we have already conclusive evidence to the contrary, When an admittedly able man like Mr Maxwell, successfully conducts a large department, every business man would say his services should be retained.' Had the Government been honest with the / Colony, they would not have dismissed a man like Mr Maxwell, who had more than fulfilled his duty, and whose honourable record of services has never been impeached, But for either personal or political reasons, the Government summarily dismissed him; and in so doing were dishonest towards the Colony. With this experience to guide us, tho theory of Ministerial responsibility is not much comfort, Ministerial responsibility now-a-days is simply humbug; Mr Seddon-Jms a majority in the House, which not only supportSliim when lie is in the right, but which stands by. him when he is in the wrong. His sins of omission and commission are condoned by his supporters, and, as far as. wo can judge, there is now no Ministerial responsibility. At the present time, Ministerial responsibility is a fiction puro and simple. Who is Mr Seddon responsible to, and of- whom is lie afraid ? It is not a question whether we can trust him with the railways, becauso lie can take them into his hands whether- we trust him or de not trust him. ■ He is not trammelled by any consideration as to whether he is pleasing or displeasing the Colony, whether he is serving it well or ill. He simply has the power to do what ho likes, and'this power we expect him to exercise, The changes already made, as a preparatory'step towards the • present Bill, involve probably an increase of taxation ranging from fifty thousand,to one IL'liis and iian sit py | l by fasi ikes ; , I I tho and ifor .uW and ■tor-