The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1884. "What has Canterbury Gained?

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1393, 1 December 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1884. "What has Canterbury Gained?

When Sir Julius Vogel returned to the colony those who believed in him welcomed his advent as presaging the dawn of a new era of prosperity for New Zealand. In his earlier speeches, prior to the general election, the present Colonial Treasurer was constantly reminding us that the evils we were suffering from were more apparent than real. He preached the gospel of confidence in the future, and he certainly seems to have caused people to look at patters from a less lugubrious point of view than they had been accustomed to do for some time past. We admit that the constant croaker is not a pleasant person to associate with, even if he has reason on his side, and if Sir Julius could remove him from our midst he would be entitled to our thanks. That he has not entirely succeeded in accomplishing this is undeniably true; but the voice of the pessimist is not so plainly heard in the land as it was some months ago. There are still men who profess to believe that New Zealand is rapidly going to the dogs, and that nothing short of a miracle can save her from ultimate and utter ruin, but these have dwindled down to a small minority. On the other hand it is by no means certain that the sudden re-action which has taken place has not carried us too far in the opposite direction. Rose-colored spectacles are very pleasant to look through, but they are apt to be deceptive, and the hope we are enjoying so complacently may prove to be telling an only too flattering tale. The deus ex machina. theory, which has caused so many people to worship Sir Julius Vogel as a sort of fetish, has unquestionably its dangerous side, and the optimism that is so prevalent in this colony just now is liable to make men put too much confidence in one statesman, and thus lose that self-reliance which is the chief factor of progress. The Treasurer may, and indeed has, done much to encourage a healthier feeling in public affairs, but whether individually we are better off than we were before his arrival is an open question, So far, it cannot be said that Canterbury has benefited to any extent from the legislation of last session. There is just the chance that the West Coast Railway may be coreir raenced ere long, although we have strong doubts as to whether a private company will be found ready to undertake the work under the conditions of the Act. These doubts are strengthened by the fact that both the Minister for Public Works and Mr Holmes recently stated that if private enterprise could not be induced to construct the line it must be done by the Government. We do not believe for an instant that a majority in the House would agree to the latter alternative, and that the suggestion should have been made proves that one result of

the confidence in the future instilled

into his supporters by the Colonia Treasurer is to engender a spirit ol recklessness. The line would no doubl

benefit this part of the colony, but it is not so urgentlv required as to warrant the floating of a special loan for its construction, nor do we fancy any Government will be found willing to submit such a proposal to Parliament. There is, however, another matter more closely affecting this Province, concerning which we

had a right to expect some action would be taken before this, but we have been disappointed. We refer to the burden laid upon the Canterbury farmers by the„ATKiNSON Government in the shape of an increased grain tariff. At the election this was made a crucial question, and it is not 100 much to say that not a single one of our present members would have gained his seat had he not been “ sound ” on this point. Sir Julius Vogel, .in his Ashburton speech, expressed himself very strongly in regard to the injustice meted out to Canterbury, and the Hon E. Richardson went

to Parliament pledged to support a reduction m the tariff. In spite of this we find that absolutely nothing has been done, although the harvest is close at hand. The Minister for Public Works hqs not only become lukewarm on the question, but from the answer he gave to the deputation

from the Chamber of Commerce wind waited on him the other day, he ha evidently arrived at the conclusion tha no immediate change can be made. I may be that the colony is all the bette for the upspringing of an optimbtii feeling of confidence, but when \v< come to consider what are the tangible results of the session to Canterbury, we confess that we should have preferred the far more momentous question oi

the grain tariff being satisfactorily settled to the rather problematical benefit conferred by the passing of the West Coast Railway Act.