RAILWAY REFORM LEAGUE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2452, 29 March 1888, Page 2

RAILWAY REFORM LEAGUE.

The Executive Committee of the Railway Reform League held a meeting on Tuesday to take into consideration the suggested appointment of Mr J. P. Maxwell as a Commissioner on the Railway Board. Resolutions were carried to the effect that the League protested against Mr Maxwell being so appointed, as during liis tenure of olliee the management of the railways has been eminently unsatisfactory, and showed his unfitness for the office ; also, that the League is of the opinion that a radical change in the railway policy is imperative, and should be brought before Parliament next session in the interest of settlement and not of revenue. Copies of the resolutions are to he forwarded to the Minister of Public Works. The following letter addressed to the Secretary of the League, owing to its address, was received too late to be la'.d before the Executive Committee at its meeting on Tuesday : — Cambridge, Tuesday morning. Dear Sir, —I regret I shall not be able to attend the Railway League meeting today, owing to business duties. I am, however, entirely of opinion that if any improvement is to be secured in the policy on which the railways are managed, under the new Board, old hands should as far as possible be dissociated from the management. Hence t cordially support the protest against Mr Maxwell's appointment to a commissionership. Still, I fear that any action on our part will be futile at this stage. The handing over of the lines to an irresponsible Board is a fearful blow at the liberties of the people, especially of the interior, and 1 feel that instead of putting the railways beyond political influence, more of that influence, but in a right direction, was required. The business of the commissioners will of course be to make the lines pay, and they will do this for their own credit's sake : whilst this is dead against the whole policy which we as a league have advocated. I would suggest to the members that it might be worth our while to consider whether it might not bo advisable to organise petitions even at this late hour, to urge Paaliament to pass an amended bill instructing the Board to try Vailc's scheme on one of the lines.—ln haste, yours truly, G. YV. Rns.si'.tjL. P.S!.—lf I remember rightly two dozen members voted for Vaile's scheme last session.