The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2720, 4 November 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1871.

So much us been said übout the Brogues contracts, and so much was said at Dunedin and in Canterbury by the gentlemen who got up an agitation against them, that it is only justice to Mr Vogel to publish his reply to the objections taken, as expressed in his speech on the subject in the House of Representatives. We present it without comment: —

The stom—in a tea-pot, it may be called against these contracts originated in Canterbury, and was urged on by a very fervid opponent of the Government, it may safely be said that a great majority of those who have taken part in the agitation do not at all understand what they have opposed. Men who call themselves friends of the Opposition within this Hous-, have striven to effect a strong party organisation in opposition to the contracts. Small contractors and labouring men have been induced to join in it by very gross misstatements addressed to their passions, prejudices, and interests. Those classes have been told that the cpiestion of their future was wholly bound up with the question of the contracts. Not only small contractors and laboring men but those who supply those classes, have been told that their interests are most intimately concerned in the settlement of the contract question : that, as a necessity to self preservation, they must join the opposing agitators. I repeat that the leading statements that have been made by opponents outside the House, are grossly mendacious. both as regards the contractors’ profits and the way in which the contracts will affect the available labor of the Colony. I consider that Messrs Brogden and sons are quite as likely as small contractors to employ such local labor as is really available—that it will be their interest to do so, as being cheaper than to import labor. Those who are employed by large contractors have a guarantee in most cases—or in all cases, probably —that engagements made with them will be faithfully earned out. There are many special advantages derivable from the ( constrnctionsof railways under large contracts

with responsible contractors. Amongst other advantages the following may be mentioned : It is impossible to secure a oneness of pr nciplo in the different lines : the contractors can afford to bring into the country appliances such as small contractors assuredly could not afford, and, especially, they arc able, and likely, to establish here large workshops and factories : they have more, and most important, available resources, through experienced managers and men, and the command of all necessary plant : they can make more rapid, because continuous, progress with works : they can arrange to push on those portions of a line m Inch should he pushed so as to secure the greatest advantage from cairiage of materials over complete! parts; while, un'er small contractors, portions of the wjorksmay be rapidly completed, and yet remain practically useless until some of the least advanced parts have been finished. All these advantages must tend to economise construction in the benefits of which the country will share. I say nothing as to the advantage of railways when completed being under one management; because if lines are to be constructed in short sections by small contractors, the principle must he that of cash payments ; so that the management- after completion and payment, must devolve upon the Government. There seems to be an idea floating in the minds of many persons, that anybody js fitted to become a ra Iway contractor— that it j.s a business not requiring special skill and knowledge • and, therefore, that for the Oolony to resolve to construct railways will mean a general invitation to speculative people to become contractors, whether they have the necessary knowledge or not. But if it is to be understood that the only requisite for securing a contract is to he the sending in of a tender for an amount lower than that of any pffier tenderer, we shall assuredly find, before we have finished our railways, that their cost has grown to be enormous. Moreover, if the idea which has gained certain support fortheOppositionoutof doors is to be realised, and the railways are to be constructed by the existing available labor in the Colony, then, to the effect of greatly increasing the cost will have to he added the other effect

that the labor market will be disorganised, and all the ordinary industries of the colony comparatively paralysed I shall be as glad as any one can be to find that, by means of the public works we propose, any present surplus labor within ' the colony obtains employment, and lam far fr v m desiring that preference should be given to newcomers ; but if a monopoly is to' be given to the labor now in the Colopy, and the price of labor is thus to be artificially raised, it will be nothing short of madness .op the part of the Colony to enter upon the construction of the proposed works. Still further, if we are to be tied down to the small contract system—giving one man a contract for laying sleepers along a short section, and another a contract for laying the rails along that section—haying a contractor for the ditching on each side of a line, separate contractors for each bridge, and for every small embankment the Government will be brought into such direct personal contact with so large a number of the residents, that the electoral independence of the Colony will certainly be affected, and most injurious political disorganisation may ensue. . . , Another point is of material interest, in considering the question of small versus large contracts. If the construction of a line is divided between a number of small contractors, it is in the power of any one of them, by litigation, or through misfortune or incapacity, practically to abut up the whole line, and so to involve great dp lay and expense As to small contractors who are fit for the work, I have to say that there is nothing in the fact of a large contract to prevent suh-coiitracts being let; indeed, I suppose sub-contracts to he a matter of necessity. The difteienee will be that, instead of working for the Government, sub-contractors wffl be working for large contractors, and will have the advantage of extensive appliances such as it would be impossible for the Government to place at the command of small contractors.