The Gisborne Times GISBORNE, OCT. 9, 1996.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1900, 9 October 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times GISBORNE, OCT. 9, 1996.

The Hou. W. Hall-Jonts has long bean known as a past master in finesse, and his reply given to the deputation from Auckland that waited upon him (o urge the construction of the railway connection between this district and Auckland, betrays no indication of any change in the character that has eamed for him that reputation. Tho hon. gentleman knows bettor than anyone else how not to do it, and at the same time to make believe that he is trying his best to do it. For years ho ha 3 humbugged the people of Auckland and Wellington over tho slow progress of the North

Tsland Main Trunk lino, always ing their lioprs with lining promises with a qualification that the line would be pushed on with all possible speed “consistent with economy.” Year after year tho same old tale was told of progress having been made, and the same promise repeated with its inuo-cent-lookiug qualification, and a year after the people who had receivod the promises wero disappointed with the result of those promises ; but when the Minister was taxed with variation of the promises, if not actual violation of them, they were reminded of tho qualification which saved the Minister’s veracity'. The “ economy” clause always saves the situation for the Minister, though it does little to con-

struct tho lino. Tho fovogoing instance is givon to show that whou tho Vlinistor goon so l'ar as to give so nothing like a dotiuite promise there is no certainty that anything will he (lono, and thero is no iustauco on record whore no dotinito promise has l om given that anything hits been dono at all. Tiro prosecution of this E »st Const lino comoo within tho latter category, for tho Minister, if not

actually hostile to tho aims of tho deputation, was most distinctly ovasive. Ho has never yot had the courago to say to any deputation that ho would not grant their request, nor has he said so in this case ; but ho has given tho cloarost indication to thoBG who know his methods that tho time, trouble, and expense of tho deputation has boon absolutely wasted, and that nothing will bo dono. It is important and cheering to know from the lips of tho Minister that “ tho East Coast district is capablo of great develop-, mont,” and peoplo will naturally admiro tho logic of tho statement and tho great amount of studious enquiry made by tho bon gentleman to enable

him to arrive at such a battering conclusion ; but they may wonder why tho Government will givo no encouragement to tho thought that development has boon so sadly neglected by the Government while loss important works are being prosocutei with undue hasto. Lines that will not in the next half century repay the cost of rolling stock, to say nothing of construction, aro being pushed on and others are being survoyod that promise little better results whilo the GisbornoAuckland line is practically neglected, and thero is no intention to do more than play with it for political purposes Members of tho House who visited the district yesterday for the first time wero ama/.od at its fertility and advancement under the most adverse circumstances as far as public expenditure is concerned, and one at least of them was forced to utter the voluntary exclamation, “ My word! aline through this country would pay,” and yet there is no hope of getting that line, while the hamlet of Ross on the West Coast of the South Island which is practically deserted by a once numerous population is to be the terminus of a railway (within the next few months probably) through country that would bo overstocked with a goat to the acre, and its total product could ba carried to the nearest market by half a dozen packhorses each week. However, wo are promisod a preliminary report on the East Coast alternative routes ”as soon as an officer can be spared,” and then, if only conflicting interests between the two routes can be stirred up, there will he a further excuse for the Government to hang the matter up until the dispute is settled so as not to prejudice Government support from either side, so that the prospects of the line being constructed are anything hut encouraging. We feel bold enough to hazard the prediction that the present Government will not live to see the work started, and we are firmly convinced that there is no intention on the part of the Minister for Public Works to make a try.