The Inter-Colonial Council which has been sitting this week in
Pretoria has devoted most of its time to a discussion of the changes in railway administration which recent events have shown to be imperative. Neither the official or majority Report nor the minority Report was accepted in its entirety, but a compromise was agreed on which has fallen in with the popular view in so far that it provides for a complete reorganisation and oversight of the finances of the Department. An auditor and a treasurer have been appointed with large powers of inquiry and control over all Inter-Colonial funds. The railways are the primary, and for the present the only, asset of the Council, and it was obviously desirable to bring their management directly under the Council's survey. This involves, of course, the abolition of the present post of Railway Commissioner, responsible only to the High Commissioner, and Sir Percy Girouard has placed his resignation in Lord Miler's hands. The whole reform seems to us to have been managed. with admirable candour and good feeling. Sir Percy Girouard is an officer of great ability, and perhaps our foremost expert on the management of military railways ; but he has not the peculiar kind of administrative and financial experience neces- sary to manage a great civil railway system. His services have been generously acknowledged by his critics, and he has accepted the altered circumstances with perfect dignity and good sense.
Previous page
