RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11506, 12 February 1903, Page 5

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

THE PREMIER AT LEVIN.

A WARNING AGAINST BORROWING

(FBES3 ASSOCIATION" TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, February 11. A deputation waited on the Premier a! Levin regarding tie connection of tho G<> vernment and the Aianawatu railway lir,*? by the extension of an existing tramway :rom Foxton to Sanson. The chairman of the local County Coun oil stated that fhere was no difficulty v; the way. The sum of £110.000 had alreaih been underwritten in London for tuc construction of tho line. Mr Seddon said he would never be a party to p!acuft\; the ulterior means of communication in tue hands of private companies The Manawatu district, ho alleged, had suffered from that, and he also instanced lAw .Midland railway. In fact, ho eaid, tin-re was no railway constructed by private capi til that had not in the end been inimical to the best interests of the State. He could say at onc«j they would never get what they wanted through him as private work. The Government laid down as a prinoiple that it should build the main arterial linee before the loop lines, and Parliament had decided that the North Inland Trunk Unt should ba the first completed. The appro priation of last swision of £2,200,000 for public worku was as much as any 600.000 people in any part of live world could stand, and more than the country was entitled to. If the colony, he said, put ke neck in a noose by borrowing, the>r» would certainly be a day of reckoning.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, February 11. Tho Premier's speech at Levin was important, inasmuch hs it cjontained an indication of the future policy in regard to tho several matters dealt with. He stated that it was expected there would be an increase of twelve millions in tho valuation of the lands of the colony, which would produoe an increased revenue of fifty thousand. It wiie intended to make radical changes in regard to the secondary education system, and he hinted of the probability of getting up a Royal Commission to go into the whole question. 'He was in favour of compelling the withdrawal ol children of tender age from secondary Ecliools, and sending them back to primary schools with the object of making room for students for the free scholarships instituted by the Government. Hβ also etated that the Government intended establishing cool'storage accommodation in various parts of the colony and in England, and hinted at the possibility of setting up a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole subject of the acquisition of estates for closer settlement.