THE CANTERBURY INTERIOR LINE OF RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1899, 25 March 1880, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY INTERIOR LINE OF RAILWAY.

With reference to the latest attempt which has emanated from Gloucester street to blacken the character of the Premier, the following article appears in yesterday’s issue of the “ Timaru Herald " :

The following paragraph appeared among the local news in the “ Lyttelton Times ” yesterday: The Homebush-Hoeohlta Section. —lt is understood that in consequence of a series of articles which appeared in the “Star” last week in reference to the calling for tenders for the Homehush-Hororata section of the Canterbury Interior Railway, the friends of the Hon. John Hall communicated with him upon the subject by telegraph, and the Premier has, in reply, intimated that he has no objection to a reference of the whole question to the Railway Commission now sitting. Now, the local news that appears in the “ Lyttelton Times " does not usually attract any attention, and we confess that we very rarely do more than hurriedly glance at it, except perhaps when some exceptionally comical item invites ns to have a bit of fun over it. About this particular paragraph, though, we have a word or two to say. Some of our readers are probably aware that there is an evening edition of the “ Lyttelton Times” called the “Star.” These two are practically the same paper. There is, however, this difference between them. Articles or paragraphs, or letters which are not considered fit for the columns of a respectable morning journal, are published in the “ Star," the heavier and more decorous portion of the editorial budget being reserved for the “Lyttelton Times.” But in order that the morning paper may benefit by the spice of the tit-bits of its evening alter ego, whilst evading a direct responsibility for them, it commonly ro-publuhea them as if extracted from another paper, or else gives the gist of them in the form of a quotation. This shallow trick is about on a par with that of the ostrich which hides its head in the sand and fondly imagines that the hunter cannot see its huge ungainly body. Well, the powers that be in the “ Lyttelton Times” office, have recently devoted themselves to the task of blackening the private character of the Premier, the Honorable John Hall, and us it would hardly suit their purpose to do this in their morning edition, they have, of course, called the “Star” into requisition. A series of articles have appeared in that paper, representing the Premier as having used his position to get a railway made through his own property, while the other sections of the midland line, authorised to be constructed, have been neglected. This slander, for it is nothing but a slander, would no doubt have speedily died a natural death if its circulation had been confined to the “ Star.” But in accordance with the plan which we have described, the substance of it was transferred to the columns of the “ Lyttelton Times,” where it was enlarged upon as if it had come from an independent source. So far so good. The domestic policy of the “Lyttelton Times ” is it* own affair, and though we have watched it from time to time with some amusement, wa should not have thought it worth our while to expose it.

Bad not those who are responsible for it gone ■a step farther and taken a liberty which we feel bound to protest against. It happens that the Christchurch agent of Press Association is also sub-editor of the “ Lyttelton Times,’ and in order that the slander to which we have re r erred might obtain a wider circulation than both editions of that paper could give it, this person has transmitted it, avowedly as a piece of local intelligence, though in the form of an extract from the “ Star,” to all the papers in the colony doing business with the Association. Now we may say that one of the rules of the Association, which all its agents are strictly enjoined to observe, is that only real news, that is to say, matters of fact, and on no account expressions of opinion on the part of newspapers or communications having a political colour, are to be sent under its auspices. It will be readily understood why this is insisted upon. The special wire, which is devoted to the transmission of Press messages, is the joint property of all the papers forming the Association; and in order that all may share equally in the news of the colony, without regard to their political views, and that none may be allowed to use the special wire for their own purposes, the rule which we have mentioned is made as stringent as possible. The Christchurch agent, however, or in other words, the “ Lyttelton Times,” had flagrantly violated this understanding. in its anxiety to further its attack on Mr Hall, as it did, indeed, on other occasions. Once, we remember, a whole leading article was foisted on the Association papers in this way, for publication on the same morning on which it appeared as an original production in the columns of the “ Lyttelton Times.” We detected the trick, and, instead of inserting the pseudo “ news,” denounced it as on imposition. The Christchurch agen>; was reprimanded and warned never to do such a thing again. Now, though, in this matter of Mr Hall and the railway,he has done precisely the same thing again. The paragraph which we have quoted from the Lyttelton Times ” at the beginning of this article, came to us as a Press Association messags the night before last, and was actually published as such yesterday morning in all those papers which were not on the alert. The “ Lyttelton Times ” slightly altered the first part of it, so as to omit the word “job ” which was used in the “ Star” and the message, but otherwise it appeared in that paper verbatim as it was telegraphed. As a member of the Press Association we have formally protested against this abuse of the position of agent, and wu hope that others will assist us in that course. Having now also let the public fully into the mysteries of the_ whole business, we will proceed to touch briefly on the accusation which the “ Lyttelton Times ” has brought against Mr Hall. That accusation is that tenders have been called for the “ Eomebush-Hororara section" of the Canterbury interior railway, which passes Mr Hall’s residence, whilst other equally necefiary sections of the railway have been neglected. It is not alleged that the construction of that section is not authorised by Parliament or that it is not desirable that it should be constructed. No, the whole charge is than a preference has been given to it over other sections, whence it is argued that Mr Hall has used his influence as Premier to get a railway made for his own private benefit. If it can be shown that no preference has been given to that section over others, then the charge falls entirely to the ground, and it . is not necessary to go further into the question of the moral turpitude of the Premier. Let us see, then what the facts are.

Last session, when it was found that the amount available for railway construction was very limited, the Government made a careful inquiry as to which of the projected railways were the most necessary, or the most likely to prove remunerative. They ultimately decided not to begin any new works during the current year, but only to proceed with such •eotions of those previously authorised as commended themselves to their judgment. These sections were distinctly indicated by Mr Oliver in his Public Works Statement of the 9th of December ; though it was at the same time stated that the actual expenditure proposed would be limited as far as possible. Among his proposals for the current year, we find the following item: —“ Canterbury Interior line—Three sections will be gone on with, viz., one at each end, and one southwards from the White Cliffs branch.” These three had previously been surveyed and made eome progress with, and the White Cliffs section had been projected even before the Canterbury Inland line was thought of. The House approved of Mr Oliver’s proposal, and p. sum of £42,600 was voted for giving effect to it. Some time elapsed after the session before any steps were taken for going on with any of these sections, but in due course tenders were invited simultaneously for contracts on the Whitecliffs to Bakaia section, and the Temuka to Rangitata flection. These tenders were called for by advertisements which may still be seen, one immediately under the other, in the columns of the “ Lyttelton Times.” The Whitecliffs to Bakaia section includes the space between Homebush and Hororata, at which latter place Mr Hall resides. The Temuka to Bangitata section is at the southern extremity of of the line. When, therefore, the 11 Lyttelton Times” states that tenders have been called for the “ Homebush and Hororata section,” to the exclusion of the rest of the authorised sections, it grossly and wilfully misrepresents facts which are staring it in the face from its own advertising columns. Why tenders have not yet been invited for contracts on the Oxford section, at the northern end of the railway, we do not know, because we do not happen to be familiar with the state of forwardness of the surveys and flpecifications. As the Government have already shown their determination to give effect to the proposals made to Parliament with respect to two out of the three sections authorised, however, we are justified in assuming that they will also give effect to them with respect to the third as soon as they are in a position to do so. We have now shown, we think, pretty completely, that the charge made by the “Lyttelton Times” against the Premier, is as utterly unfounded as the means taken to circulate it are disreputable. Whether or not the whole interior line might, in the present financial condition of the colony, have been very advantageously allowed to stand over, is another question, about which we have our own opinion. But Parliament settled that last session, and all that the Government has done is to carry out impartially tie decision of Parliament.