MR THOMSON'S SPEECH.

Evening Star, Issue 3179, 29 April 1873, Page 2

MR THOMSON'S SPEECH.

‘ 'tfa HditQk. Sir,— l concluded my previous obsecv&r tions by stating that it was not true, as alleged by Mr Thomson, that all the contracts entered into by the Government were at an advance of one-third over the computed estimates. In support of his assertion, he says that he “thought the increase waa owing very much to the rash and illegal contracts entered into between the Treasurer and Messrs Brogden.” This statement is made to mislead. Mr Thomson withholds the conditions annexed to the contract. When he produces a copy of them, it will be clear that, under the circumstances, the Treasurer made a good arrangement, and nothing he did was illegal. Further, he says : “These contracts led to the firm being allowed to tender, without competition, fop railways, to the extent of one million.!’ lq fairness'; Mr 1 Thomson 1 should 1 here have given these conditions. In place of dpins so, he says: “ft was natural, in the enviable position of tenderers, not being subject to the wholesome influence of public competition, they would propose a very high scale of charges. This was ex* actly wmat they did.” Here the moral spirit of the man appears in its natural color. “It was natural”—that is to say, he judged of Messrs Brogden’s principles by his own, and that they had done what he would have done, “propose a very high scale of charges”; and adds—“that was what they did.” Query—How does he know ? lie bps no experience in these mutr ters; he simply believes that they did so, because he in their place would have done so. In vindication of this belief, he adds : “ In proof he need only refer to the Invercargill and Mataura line. The estimate amounted to L98,f63. They should expect Mr Brunton’s calculations in regard to labor and material to be pretty correct, for he was a gentleman of local experience in these matters.” This presumptuous man expects to find Mr Brunton’s calculations pretty correct, only. This Is a teacher’s language to his pupils on examining their slate, “it is pretty correct,” meaning compared with other accounts said pupil had summed up. Mr Thomson may have gone over tbe calculations of labor, etc., in connection with the other lines, and compared with them, finds those calculations in this line pretty correct, “for he, Mr Brunton, was a gentleman of local experience in these matters.” But after all he has a doubt, for, in a former part of his speech, he states, “The estimates in some instances may not have been very accurately prepared.” The truth is, Mr Brunton has not only had local experience, but' a long and large practice in various parts of tUe Avorld | $8 may be4"depended on, in every thing he says anfl does; truth and accuracy being his aim. ' It' is true, that will not debar omissions or error ; but who is free from either ? This is not to be meant to be understood by Mr Thomson’s speech. Mr Thomson makes reference to the maladministration of the Government, in so far as their application of money fur some public good, that ha i been previously set aside for some other public good, but thinks it wise not to tell the reason why. It is gratifying to know that, after his keen search for misdoings of the General Government he has been unable to name one instance of their having wasted any part of the public money. He might have pointed to a great many thousands having been thrown away by an Executive holding the Stafford policy; but Mr Thomson discreetly avoids this, but it will out* Jw

gays:—“As the railways are opened, a large portion of the land revenue, now almost their only Provincial revenue, would disappear to pay interest. ” That means taxation. Mr Vogel anticipated such in hi? financial speech; so did other mrmbers of the Assembly. But it does not follow that it may be necessary ; if it be, people will be able to live better and pay taxes, than they now live without having them to pay, because the circumstances of all will be improved, and much more land be brought under cultivation; country produce will become plentier iu towns ; town produce equally plenty in the country, and conveyed either way with railway speed at 75 per cent, less cost. All this means greater abundance of the necessaries of life, at lower prices ; and work will bo more plentiful as these new paths, when opened for the transit of men and goods, will give a fillip to the extension of every industry, and to the opening of new ones; men will be able to travel 480 miles in twenty-four hours—2o miles an hour, without tear and wear to their persons and clothes—and their travelling expenses a trifle compared with what they are now. This saving of time in Otago alone will he over L 500,000 a-year; besides, the saving in the maintenance of highways would be many thousands per annum. When Mr Dalrymple senior ventilated his opinions on railways through the Daily Times, nine or ten years ago, he proved the value of the traffic between Dunedin and the Taieri for pae year; he showed the cost of a railway as L 300,000, and that, if made, the then traffic yrou’d have yielded a nett return of 12 per cent., besides an annual saving to the country of L 142.281 14s. You will find his letter \?lth this printed in the Daily Times issue of J2tb April, 1864, or about that date. The line pow ip progress will be completed at half Mr Dalryraple’s computed while the traffic must have doubled) 01 course the returns from the railway will be in proportion. Have the goodness to insert Mr Dalrymple’s letter at the end of this, the study of which will allay every mistrust in the present scheme of railways, and show that Mr Vogel’s policy is wisdom’s paths.—l am, Ac. | April 28. A Child.