The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 3004, 4 October 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1872.

Mr Reid has made his statement, which is thus far satisfactory that even should the present Ministry remain in power there will be no attempt at reversing the policy of the last three sessions. We never imagined such a course possible with even the most retrogressive politicians. The necessity for keeping pace with the world's advancement is too apparent to be disputed, But then arises the important question, what necessity was there for a change of administration 1 We have not bud time to consider the Statement of Mr Reid, and to compare his plans with those of the late Ministry. The cursory glance we have been able to give, however, justifies us in doubting whether those relating to Otago are so really beneficial to the Province as the programme of Mr Fox’s Government, We do not object to any line proposed to be constructed, but our conviction is that the trunk lines should be first made, and that such local lines as between Lawrence and Tokomairiro should be deferred until the general plan is completed, or, if formed, should be on the principle proposed for making the branch line from Oamaru to Waiareka. In fact, it is high time the principle that those more immediately benefited should contribute largely to the expense of railways, was more generally recognised. The worst precedent that could have been followed has been the home precedent in this respect. It has led to making a most unwise distinction between the principle on which macadamised roads and railways are constructed. District roads and their maintenance are held to be fair objects for local taxation ; while the best road yet unfinished—the railroad—is made a plea for fleecing the public for the benefit of those whose lands are multiplied in value many times by its formation. The greatest drawback to a township or a district will be the refusal to give it the advantages of railway communication, and let it once belaid down that neither a line would be made nor a station erected unless the district provided the land and the station and its approaches, and there would be no difficulty in the matter. Fair compensation would be readily awarded to those who really suffered loss; while the public would not have the vexation of knowing that they had paid fifty times its value for a strip of land, while adding perhaps tenfold to the worth of the rest of the property from which it was taken. While expressing a general appioval of the plans marked out by Mr Reid, we are really expressing satisfaction ! with those of the Fox Ministry. The slight departures from them seem to us to be the worst feature in his statement. Mr Reid comes forward with nothing new' except a sop for his own constituents. His way lias been marked out for him, and nolens miens he must follow in the track, with the exception of the trimming. And even for this the margin is so very narrow that his difficulty has been to vary the programme, —he has not tried to mend it. Mr Stafford gave utterance to a statement that is eminently condemnatory of the course that he and his colleagues have pursued in regard to the late Ministry, when lie said, —

New Zealand was in politics ftnd everything else a most unstable people, and to it applied the words, “ Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel.” No country would ever attain excellence when a love ot change was so constantly shown in it. For himself, he trusted that he vould always be sufficieutly (Conservative to oppose changes whoso only merit was r in the fact that they were changes.

Was lie in a repentant njciqd when he uttered that selt-eumienmiug

tence 1 Or was lie only looking forward to the consciousness that the motion of Mr Vogel will give opportunity to the House to do that justice to the late Ministry that their successors are now doing by adopting all their plans. The most obtuse opponent of the late Government must now see that they were charged on suspicion, convicted, condemned, and superseded, without proof, and that their bitterest opponents now pronounce them innocent, because they follow in their footsteps. Take away personal antipathies, and what has the country gained by the change? It is easy to prove that much has been lost in time and money up to this time, but the end has not come. We do not yet see how Mr Stafford can conduct the affairs of the country with so small a majority. Unless some compromise takes place, which at present appears improbable, there seems no remedy except an appeal to the country, when we do not doubt the faction that has so recklessly interrupted public business will receive an emphatic condemnation bv the country.