From J. M. Ritchie, General Manager National Mortgage & Agency Company, Dunedin.

I see no reason to change the present system of management of our Railways, which was decided by the voice of the people, and has worked advantageously ever since. The question appears to me to narrow itself to this—whether it is better that Parliament should delegate the management to their Minister or to an independent Commissioner. The former may have a short term of office, may have no expert knowledge or special aptitude for so complicated affairs, may owe his seat and his power to a section of the electors which is strongly biassed, and is certainly in danger of being strongly influenced by pressure of all kinds, which cannot conduce to successful administration. The latter will be at least free from these disturbing, controlling, and upsetting influences. Both are directly subject to control by Parliament, both can be moved by the same authority. Parliament retains the power of the purse in both cases, the difference being that the Minister is subject to daily pressure from the electors, while the latter does not come into constant contact with them. The present system originated out of a wise distrust of themselves by the people to manage a service so involved as the Railways by the ordinary method of party government. It was felt strongly and shrewdly that the very freedom of the people might be seriously interfered with by political control, and also that for a time at least, finance was a more important factor in the management than any other, and I do not see that anything has occurred to change the position from what it was when the important change was decided upon some years ago There is no high principle involved of Parliament abdicating its functions or of distrust of the people—the former still retains its authority, and as I have said the latter wisely distrust themselves. It would be well if their Minister had always the same doubts about himself.