AGY-1163 | Railway Commissioners of New South Wales

Full description

The Government Railways Act (51 Vic. No. 35) commenced on 22 October 1888 (1) and established a corporate body to be known as "The Railway Commissioners of New South Wales", consisting of three commissioners appointed for seven year terms. The Railway Commissioners were responsible for the appointment of staff, and the carrying out of all the details of administration, subject to certain clearly defined checks lodged with the Governor in Council. The Commissioners were protected to the extent that no suspension by the Government for misbehaviour or incompetence could succeed unless both Houses of Parliament passed affirmative resolutions. (2)

Sir Henry Parkes insisted on separating the functions of constructing new lines and that of operating completed lines. To this end the companion Public Works Act, 1888 (51 Vic., No. 37 ) was introduced required all new proposals for railway or other works to be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. The day to day administration of the rail system by the Railway Commissioners was seen as distinct from the policy of the Government. Parliamentary questions could be asked of the responsible Minister but the Railway Commissioners could not be compelled to answer. Government control was reserved for use in emergencies expected only to arise in the case of excesses or failings on the part of the Commissioners. (3)

The Railways Commissioner's organisation structure was a modified version of the preceding Railway Commissioner's branch structure including -

Head Quarters Staff
Traffic Auditors Branch
Locomotive Engineer's Branch
Traffic Branch (Chief Traffic Managers Branch from 1899)
Tramways Locomotive Branch
Tramway Traffic Branch
Secretary's Branch
Accountants Branch
Engineer for Existing Lines
Stores Branch
Electric Branch
Tramways Electric Branch (from 1896)
Interlocking Branch

The Government Motor Omnibus Act, 1905 (Act No.31, 1905) public motor omnibus services became the responsibility of the Railway Commissioners.

The Railway Commissioners Appointment Act (No. 7 1906) commencing on 4 April 1907 (4) dissolved the Railway Commission of New South Wales and created the position of Chief Commissioner of Railways. (5) To aid the Chief Commissioner an Assistant Commissioner of Railways and an Assistant Commissioner of Tramways would also be appointed.



FOOTNOTES
(1) New South Wales Government Gazette, No. 657, 20 October 1888 p. 7411
(2) Wettenhall R.L. 'Early Railway Management Legislation in New South Wales: The Origins of a Pioneer Public Corporation', Tasmanian University Law Review, Volume I, No. 3, 1960 p. 463.
(3) Ibid. p.467.
(4) New South Wales Government Gazette, No. 44, 4 April 1907 p.
(5) Railway Commissioners Appointment Act, 1906 Sections 5 & 6.