The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2382, 19 November 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 1870.

For two sittings more of the Provincial Council we have had under consideration a further development of “ How not to do it.” In the year 18 (M—six years ago—Mr Dick’s resolution recommending the survey tor lines of railway between Dunedin and the Clutha, and Dunedin and Port Chalmers, was carried. For four years after that the Governments of the day used every means that ingenuity could devise to have them constructed, and for the last two years the Government of this day lias been trying by every possible means “ bow not to do it.” Had it not been for this perversity of purpose, both lines might by this time have been very far advanced. The latest move of the school of “ how not “ to do it ” is as unwise as the rest of their procedure ; and on account of its barely concealed object, reminds one of the doings of the unjust steward, who

did not hesitate to sacrifice the best interests of his master in order that he might be supported by those foolish enough and dishonest enough to adopt his advice. It is plainly an electioneering move. To say that the financial scheme of the Government has been discussed on its merits, would be wilfully to close our eyes to tacts. The speech of the mover of the resolution oidy pointed to possible evils, which any clear-headed man ought to see arc capable of being dealt with altogether apart from the industrial scheme of the Colonial Ministry. There is at present no necessary connection between the evils of Centralism and railway construction. The General Government have not proposed as yet to alienate our land. Not even a mention has been' made of the proposition beyond the babbling of a few Northern members, and when it comes before the country it is time enough to meet it on its merits. The Provincial Executive may be actuated by good intentions. From its pcrxtni-nel we believe they are, but unfortunately such intentions are said to form the pavement of a very uncomfortable spot. Those good intentions have been manifested in a variety of disagreeable ways, and have brought this fine Province nearly to a deadlock. They have been shewn in shutting up the land from sale, whereby public works were stopped. They wore shewn in a fruitless opposition to the General Assembly, and the ultimate granting to the class they opposed of a far greater boon than they would have dared to ask for themselves. They were shewn by their absurd endeavor to induce companies to bid for the construction of the Clutha Hallway ; they were shewn by the treatment received by some of our leading citizens, who came forward to help the Executive out of their difficulties in railway construction ; and now they are shewn by the wily electioneering resolution that the Provincial Council is asked to pass. Mr Kejd himself must be ashamed ot the arguments of some of his supporters. We regret that the space at our command does not enable us to present our readers with full reports of the proceedings of onr local Parliament, lor really the country ought to know the class of men who are at present throwing obstructions in the way of our progress. Put, as a matter ot duty, we present them with the following utterances by Mr Thomson, the representative of the Clutha district —that district likely to be most benelitted by a railway

I was pleased with the attack made by the honorable member for Cavcrsham upon the honorable member, Mr Rkynolds, for the honorable member says he intends explainin'' himself. But he will have some difficulty. That honorable member may satisfy his own conscience, but not the public. '1 hat honorable member has been the most strenuous supporter of the Vogkd Administration— a strenuous supporter of the Vookl Government. He at a public meeting which he held in Dunedin ran down the Staffokd Ministry', and called them everything but gentlemen ; but he comes at the same time and says the whole of the financial scheme is a sham. .Sir, he supports the financial policy of the Government, though a sham. That is strong language for a inembi r to use —for a man who supported the Government. L consider it one of its worst features that Jhis scheme is losing ground. The greater number of good schemes gain ground—-for instance, the Ballot Bill. When it was first before the Assembly it had only two supporters, but it gradually gained ground until at length it became the law. lam sure this scheme is losing ground in this island, but in the North Island it is gaining ground, for they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. When it first came before the country I entertained the same opinion I do now, and I would just say what has not been already said : One great argument I hold against the scheme is Mr Vookl’s connection with it. That, to my mind, is a strong argument against it. The Hon. Mr Vugkl— l suppose I must call him—has been called a master spirit, and no doubt he has a great deal of ability ; but I am oue of tho-e who opposed his policy and his administration ef the affairs of this Province, and consider a considerable part of the depression in the Province is owing to Mr Vogkd’s administration of affairs. (“ Hear, hear,' 1 from several members.) I was a member of this House before he had a seat in it, and 1 recollect he was not a Provincialisb at all.

Then followed a story of how Mr Vogel endeavored to throw ridicule upon the Provincial Council of that day, and some further twaddle as to Mr Thomson’s estimate of Mr Vogel ; a few words shewing his belief that the North Island members were bettor politicians than the Southerners, and that in consequence the lion’s share of the benefits to bo derived from the scheme would fall to the North. And with such like pleasantries our Provincial Council delight themselves, and while their time away. What wonder that with such men the lion’s share falls to the North? What wonder that the lion’s spirit should overmaster the sheep, .when they refuse the good they might have because it is not so much as they want? If lion wore met by lion, politician by politician, man of business by man of business, wo should not fear to accept the offer of the Government, for we should know our strength, and bo determined to make equitable terras. None but a fool would refuse an instalment of what was liis, when that very instalment supplied Jam with strength to take the

remainder. A man equal to Hie position would have come forward, and moved that the proposition of the General Government be considered with a view, to its being accepted. He would have seen that the General Government, in conceding the claim of the Middle Island to one-half of its paternal mercies, has confessed its dependence upon it, and tiiis would have convinced him that firmness and unity of purpose only are required to dictate the conditions on which each island shall have its public works performed. Ho would have seen that the justice of localisation of expenditure could be enforced by the Provincial Council and the Province strengthening the hands of the members of the Assembly ; and this condition determined, the Middle Island need not care how much money is spent in the North, for the merest tyro will perceive that when there they have to pay their own interest, they will not bo so very anxious to incur debts, and will not log roll to prevent Middle Island advancement.