The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2481, 28 January 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1871.

Oxe of the vngue phrases in use at the present election amongst the candidates for electoral honors, in reference to Public Works and Immigration, is—- “ I am prepared to support the scheme “ with considerable modifications.” This was Mr Bathgate’s enunciation ; this is Mr Reid’s cry, and this will be the profession of many men who, if put to the test, would be quite unable to describe tlie Public Works and Immigration scheme as it is, let alone telling of the “ considerable modiflcau tions ” they would support. There is something very high sounding about these u considerable modifications.’* It looks like cautious wisdom. It is too laic now to put the question to Mr Bathgate as to his idea of what they should be. His position is secured ; so we have done with him until be shews his colors in the Assembly. But > there are others who are not yet elected whose “ modifications ” are not so cev- : tain. For instance, giving Mr Reid credit for saying what he believes, his notion of the scheme is so erroneous that we are not surprised at his being prepared to support it with “ consider- “ able modifications ” —which, being interpreted, may very easily mean that when he clearly comprehends it, through his own ideas having undergone “ con- “ siderable modifications,” he will support it altogether. We expect on this point that many persons will be suddenly enlightened. The internal conviction of the suitability of the scheme to the requirements of the Colony, will in most cases be revealed immediately after the result of the poll makes the candidates members of the House of Representatives. The film will then Tall from their eyes, and they will become sensible .that they have been bowing down before Demos, avlioui they had so blinded with dust that he had .to feel his way, and m despair of choosing the best man, had placed the laurel on the smoothest brow. On the whole, howevei’, we are glad to see that in the main those who are returned are likely to support industrial progress. It may give our readers an idea of tlie • mental reservations of those who support the scheme with modifications,” to learn some of the “modifications" I mentally reserved. Put the question I —What modification do you desire ? 1 One will tell you that fie would only ! have railways constructed where they ' arc required. Ask him whether that i is not one of the provisions of the Act?

and lie will (if he knows it) say, Yes ; but there must he some security, *fec. Put the enquiry 'to another, and he will reply he is for railways where they will pay. Ask him where they will not pay if they open up the country, and he cannot "tell. The truth of the matter is, that the advantages of cheap railways are but very dimly apprehended. Most ot us have been away from England so many years- -or in Victoria, where dear railways only have been constructed, and where they have been dealt with in such exceptional styles—that we are not prepared to look upon them as necessities of the age, It is amazing how differently men view public and private enterprise. The establishment of a factory, which" involves vast preliminary outlay in machinery capable of producing certain classes of goods more cheaply and of superior quality to ruder and slower processes, is looked upon as an act of wisdom ; especially if it succeeds. It is seen at once that the effect is to add to human comfort, and in the interests of mankind it is, in the words of Knight, carrying production “ for- “ ward to its utmost point of perfec- “ tion, so as to make its products “accessible to all.” But there must be means of distribution as well as means of production, or the most skilful efforts of the producer will end in ruin; and the highest perfection of industrial organisation is reached when the cheapest and most rapid means of transit co-exist with* the most efficient means of production. Our common metalled roads are an immense advance upon bush roads, but they are costly to maintain and costly to work. A railway constructed upon the latest and most improved principles is rather more expensive to form —but, like well-con-trived machinery, is maintained at a very light expense, and is worked for a mere trille. People never ask themselves whether metalled roads pay interest for the money laid out. They seem to have arrived at the conviction that communities must be taxed for their construction and maintenance ; but a railroad ! unless it returns interest for money, it is one of the schemes to be adopted “ with modifica- “ tions.” It is not generally accepted as true that if a metalled road giving access to the interior of a country, pays through the indirect advantages derived, although its annual maintenance may be ten times that of a railroad of equal length, a railroad that did not pay more than working expenses would be far cheaper and better. The metalled road is not only a constant heavy drain upon revenue, but it involves an amount of labor and capital in transport of goods and passengers, in waste of time and wear and tear, that adds so much to the cost as to limit the demand, and render production, except within very narrow limits, unprofitable. A railway equalises circumstances, and renders property of nearly equal value throughout_its whole length. If the settlers along the Clutha line could understand this, rather than elect Mr Heid in his obstructiveness, they would subscribe to give him a retiring pension, and be glad if by so doing they could wipe out the record of their own foolish opposition from public remembrance. The aristocratic clodocrats of England just adopted the like ignorant opposition when first railroads were projected, and had in many instances to pay clearly afterwards to secure their advantages.