The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2393, 2 December 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1870.

Port Chalmers has had the honor of leading the demonstrations that we hope will he made throughout the Province, of dissent from the decision of the Provincial Council in regard to public works. Mr Reid and his “ tail” seem to imagine that they have the country with them. They did succeed in hoodwinking a great many men in their crusade against the proclamation of Hundreds. Many persons even yet believe they were conscientious in their opposition to the Act of the Assembly, when in truth they were only factious. The result of this factiousness has been most disastrous# The Treasury chest has been emptied, industry has been paralysed, public works have been stopped, no land has been in the market • and had it not been for the handsome revenue received for assessment on stock, and the Province’s share of the Customs revenue, the Government would have been literally bankrupt. The argument was plausible, but unsound. It was hollow and shallow. The Province, misled, refused a positive "cod, asked for by the men that most D '

itrongly opposed it in the Council, jecause it did not come from the .Provincial, but the General Government. Just the same doctrine is preached now. For six years the Provincial Government have had the opportunity of making the (Jlutlia Railway. During the last two Mr Reid has had ample opportunity of carrying it out. Why then is it not in progress ? Simply because every proposition likely to be successful has been refused, and some chimerical project, as unbusiness-like as it has proved expensive, was substituted for the common-sense, straightforward way of making a bargain. Mr Reid and his “tail” want the people to believe they desire to see public works curried out. But by their works men are known. Words may be used to conceal men’s thoughts, but no one would believe either Mr Reid or Mr Reid’s “ tail ” wish anything else than ruin to the Province, judged by the way in which they go about their work. We yesterday published the memorial rendered necessary by the factious conduct of the Provincial Council. It is an appeal from the Council to the people. Some persons, in the face ol the coming elections now close at hand, may say that it would have been suflicient to have left the electors to speak by their votes at the hustings. We will point out some reasons why such an appeal would he too late. No matter what haste is taken to hurry on the elections, months must elapse before any measures could be adopted calculated to give permanent employment to those who depend upon labor for their subsistence. We have no desire to have a repetition of last winter’s distress ; and let the people remember that it was in great measure caused by the factiousness of Mr Reid and his “ tail.” During the present session they have taken no means to provide against a recurrence of it, We pointed out a simple and inexpensive way by which men might be employed on the goldfields. Some of the most experienced and far-seeing men in the Colony approved the plan. Men who have had extensive means of judging through long connection with mining matters in this and otfifcr Colonies, and who have held important offices in Colonial Legislatures, pronounced it good. But as it merely concerned the working men, it has not been deemed worthy of a thought. The General Government come forward, and offer to do what the Provincial Government then would not, and now cannot do. Every other Province is accepting the boon ; but Otago is not to have it, according to the dictum of the Council, until the people who would be immediately benefitted by it are compelled to waste six mouths ! Six months, did we say ? Nay, nearer eighteen. Supposing every representative elected were in favor of the scheme—which he will be at the. hustings —it will be six months before Parliament can be got together. Three months more will be wasted in talk. Possibly, when Otago’s “ tail ” permit the railway to he gone on with, other Provinces will have obtained all that can be appropriated, and Otago will he told it must -wait its turn. Let the people consider well the folly of which the present Executive and their following have been guilty. They were warned of the consequences of shutting up the land from sale, but on the most hollow pretences they persevered. The distress of last winter, the closed shops in Dunedin, the records of the Bankrupt Court, and the long-continued depression of trade, are the results. Let other Provinces go on with their public works, and Otago stand still ; if the people cling to the Province, the distress of last winter will be intensified. Many poor families-are yet unable to wipe off the debts then incurred, and before winter comes they will not have time to accumulate anything to fall back upon when work is scarce. But if works go on elsewhere, population will follow, and the Province, misgoverned by Mr Reid and his “ tail,” will again suffer from an exodus of its ablest and most energetic laborers. The people have asked bread of the Provincial Council, and they have had a stone given them. Port Chalmers has spoken out —let other constituencies do likewise. The Provincial Government may yet have the direction of the works ; but if they are carried on in spite of their opposition, we hold that Mr Reid and his doclocratic followers will have proved themselves the bitterest enemies of Provincial institutions ] for every one will look to the General Government for relief from the effects of their intolerant selfish ncompeteuce.