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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 55

Public Works and Railways

Public Works and Railways.

A few words on the Public Works question, and then I think I may apologise to you for having trespassed so long, and thank you for the patient hearing you have given me. I claim that in the present Minister for Public Works we have a gentleman who is thoroughly acquainted with the construction of railways and with their management, and already I believe he has done a great deal to improve the system of managing railways, but I am not blind to the fact that an immense deal more remains to be done, It is the opinion of the Government that to manage the railways with success they must be divorced from all political influence, and they should be managed by local boards. I (Cheers). I will give you an instance which i may be of interest if not to you to your I neighbours. Only a few days ago my attention was directed to the very unequal and unfair rates charged for the carriage of cheese between Waikato and Auckland—a change which really seriously affected the success of an industry which promises to be a very large one. I represented the matter to my colleague, and he has, I am glad to say, assured me that within a very few days there will be a sensible reduction made in the cost of freight of cheese between Waikato and Auckland. (Cheers.) That may seem a small matter, but it is a matter of great moment to a largo number of settlers, to whom it may make the difference between a profitable and an unprofitable industry, (Cheers.)