The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2703, 16 October 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1871.

There is to be a meeting to-nigbt convened by bis Worship the Mayor, professedly “ to take into consideration “ the railway contracts with Messrs “ Brogden and Sons.” Tt is a healthy sign ■when people take an interest in passing events. The public would do well to meet and discuss all proposals of Ministers, if they were in possession of the facts, and would treat them in a candid and impartial manner. But we must warn the working classes, who are chiefly interested in this matter, that there is every reason to suppose they are about to be called upon to give votes in favor of a faction who will use them for mere party purposes, to obstruct those great works which have marked the career of the present Ministry, and which are so necessary for Colonial progression. A similar ciy has been got up in Christchurch, where a very weak meeting was held which resulted in some resolutions being passed similar to those which will be proposed to-night. The arguments that will be put forward, will be intended to shew that great injustice is done to local contractors by the Government entering into arrangements with one large firm. Yevy possibly, too, there will be plenty said in condemnation of the terms of the contract. On the first point we may observe, that however specious it may sound to advocate the interests of local contractors, there are very good reasons why the construction of railways should be remitted to men of large capital. In the first place, it does not really, however apparently, interfere with the interests of local contractors, as has been seen in the formation of the Port Chalmers line. In that instance many different local contractors have had opportunity of taking the work from the promoters in short lengths with more or less profit to themselves. Some who had means gained, some who had not but were yet industrious, made wages; some who had neither skill nor capital lost by their contracts. The advantage of large undertakings being carried out by capitalists is that there is always economy of means. One hundred miles can b,e made at a cheaper rate than twenty, because the plant required is not nearly so great in proportion, and a sub-contrac-tor can usually seeme much more advantageous terms by allowing something for the use of the plant already provided, than by paying, sometimes, a ruinous rate of interest for money to construct plant for themselves. Generally, it has been found too that it is better to enter into contracts with firms who know what they are about, than with Governments who are bound by routine. But we put it to the working men, who this night will be asked to vote for these resolutions by some mere political agitators, what interest they have in the matter ? They must reflect well before they allow themselves to be cajoled into opposing the Government. Men who live by labor are not the parties to oppose the work being done by a capitalist. Let them say whether it is hotter to work for men who pay their wages regularly, or for those who have not the means of carrying on the work without paying a high rate of interest for the money they need. Hundreds of working men can tell the tale that if a. small contractor cannot make the work pay, it is the laborer who suffers. The first contract taken on the Port Chalmers line is an instance in point—the sub-contractor failed, many workmen lost their wages. If the work be undertaken by a large capitalist and carried out by him, they are secured against this loss —their money is sure. And supposing a large contractor to sublet the work, which he will to a dead certainty, he is not likely to let it to a man who cannot carry it through. He knows what can be done, and generally will not allow a sub-contractor to take work that can but result in his own ruin and in loss to the workmen engaged. There is in this fact security for the honest sub-contractor not having to enter into ruinous competition with those who recklessly enter upon undertakings which ultimately entail loss upon themselves, their sureties, and those in their f employ. On these grounds, based upon the experience of Great Britain, America, Australia and New Zealand, we cannot sec that the Brogden contract is detrimental to the interests of either local contractors or workmen. To the latter most certainly it is not, but in every way an advantage ; and even assuming that the former reap no benefit, it only leaves them to make arrangements with Messrs Brogden and Sons, instead of with the Government or the Board of Works, But ito the laborers there is

a far more important question : should this factious agitation be successful, these public works must be stopped; for no one will advance money to a Colony that repudiates engagements. This would be the worst social calamity that could befal New Zealand, and would be the ruin of the workingclasses. Let them carefully reflect what class of men it is who arc asking for this meeting, and what their past career has been. They have systematically opposed railway construction by the Central Government, and have never done anything whatever to forward the interests of the working classes. But for their opposition, the Clntha line would now have been in operation ; and when through their adverse action they succeeded in postponing its construction for years, they were prepared to spend one hundred thousand pounds more than was necessary rather than allow it to be done by the present Ministry. They have pretended to sympathize with the working classes, and have talked largely about settling people on the land : but they have obstinately for two years and upwards closed the land against the people, and shewn their sympathy with the squatters by selling 45,500 acres to one man, on deferred payment, at fourteen shillings and sevenpence an acre. We could multiply instances proving that their fair professions are contradicted by their acts, but would only cite one other circumstance to prove that the Opposition is essentially factious. Mr Stafford, on this very subject, failed utterly in his attack upon the Government, and had not the courage to propose a resolution condemnatory of their policy. His Dunedin followers will not be so conscientious. They will dare to rush where ho feared to tread. If there are objections to the Brogden contract, they must rest on other grounds. Those popularly taken are untenable.