THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1882. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2580, 14 July 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1882. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

When the present Government took office on the resignation of Sir John Hall, and when Parliament had to be faced, it was felt that one of the most serious questions to bo disposed of was the raising or otherwise of a loan. We think it may fairly bo said that tho general feeling of the country was in favor of economy—but not, of course, such economy as would cripple tho resources of the country. It was felt that the best policy to pursue with regard to railways would be to borrow money to carry out to its end the broad scheme laid down by the original Public Works policy, and perhaps to construct a few lines that might be necessary from motives of policy in reference to the Native question. That is to say that the loan should be mainly devoted to completing the main trunk railway through both islands. As for branch lines, the general feeling at that time was that, if any one of them was worth constructing, the vary liberal terms granted by the Railway Construction and Land Act of last session should be sufficient to induce companies to undertake their construction. Moreover, it was felt that the very unseemly scramble for the loaves and fishes that took place after tho last loan was raised should be, above everything, avoided. That, we think, was tho feeling of the country before the meeting of Parliament, and the Government might, had it chosen, have taken advantage of that feeling. We believe it would have been supported by tho majority of the House had it declared that tho policy to which we have alluded to above was that by which it was detertermined to stand. Indeed it had become to be a matter of popular belief that the said policy embodied the loan policy of the late Government, and had been taken up by the present one. The country was sick of political railways. We had sown our wild oats in that direction, and were now determined to move more cautiously. To have a main lino running through both islands was a social, commercial, and political necessity. But as. to branch lines, if they would pay at all, they would pay companies, and a very strong case indeed would have to be made out in favor of any district if the Government were to be induced to construct a railway through it at their own expense. Examining, however, the schedule of railways to be constructed out of the three million loan, it is very evident that this policy has been totally abandoned, and we defy anybody to carefully study it and come to any other conclusion than that it has been put together more with a view of pleasing all sections of the House than from any other motive. Moreover, a scramble for tho money has boon avoided by the simple but disingenuous method of endeavoring to satisfy everybody before the possibility of it should take place. Men, when well filled, are little likely to fight for food.

That has apparently been the idea of the Government. As to the real wants of the colony as tt whols being consulted, irrespective of party and local politics, we cannot e«o that the Government have taken a broad and fearless view of the position.

When the three million loan was first mentioned, it was at once felt that one of the main items which should be included was the pushing on of the main line through the North Island. Nothing would tend so much to put a stop once and for all to the Native difficulty, and open up to European colonisation the great tracts of country which ate now lying comparatively waste. But on reviewing, we will not say the wants of the country, hut their own political situation, the Government evidently found that if a sufficient sum was devoted to that purpose, there would he hut little of three millions to divide between the various parts of the colony, and consequently for reasons which it is hard to divine, the money for the construction of this political railway is to be treated altogether apart, and, in point of fact, a loan of four, instead of three, millions is to ho asked for. We presume this million is to be raised at the same time as the other three. And then arises this question— If the Government see any immediate prospect of using the money, why raise it separately ? If, on the other hand, the Government know that some time will elapse before it can be utilised, why not say so boldly at once, and defer applying to the money market ? But to return to the general policy of railway construction adopted by the Government. To prove onr contention let ns take the £300,000 proposed for the Otago Central Railway into consideration. Does the country as a whole believe sincerely that this Una will pay ? We say, “No.” The Railway Commission has reported most unfavorably on it; the only good that has ever been said of it has been through the medium of gentlemen appointed by those local bodies which would benefit most strongly by its construction. And yet nearly a fifth of the whole sum to be devoted to railways is to ha given to this line. And not only this, but the Government, by sanctioning this expenditure, commit the colony to the future construction of the remainder of the Otago Central. Indeed, they say as much. £1,000,000 is wanted for the line. The present Government are to find nearly a third of that sum, and it is to be left to future Governments to provide the balance. The Government lias altogether ignored the results of the Commission on whose report it has always set such store, and apparently for no other reason than to conciliate the people of Otago, has determined to build the Une. Companies fought shy of the line, notwithstanding the liberal terms of last year’s Act, and it was left for the present Administration to take up the project. It has been endeavored to mollify Canterbury by the proposed expenditure of | £92,000, to be spent on extension of ! present lines. Including the Central line, Otago •will obtain £438,000, not to mention the £700,000 that is to come for the completion of the Otago Central. Or to put it another way. The main trank Une in the South Island is to get £345,000, as against the £438,000 to he immediately absorbed in what may fairly be termed branch lines in Otago. Looked at either way itis not such ahad bargala ror our Southern neighbor. But seeing that the people in Canterbury wiU have to take a large share in paying the interest of the new loan, it is more than doubtful whether they will feel inclined to look upon the matter cheerfuUy, The taxpayers here were perfectly willing, we take it, to pay their share of the interest to he paid on any moneys raised for the genuine completion of the original scheme, but when they realit* the fact that the principles of that scheme have been overlooked they will not feel charmed at the outlook.

Taking the whole matter into consideration it cannot but be regretted that the Government have allowed themselves to fall into the narrow views which they have adopted. Even if it had cost them their seats it would have been far better for them to have made oat a broad and national loan policy. The country would have, in tho long ran, recognised their pluck and disinterestedness. We are not advocating stagnation—— far from it. Bat written in the face of the present loan scheme is a palpable hunting after votes, and we regret that a Government in whom, in the main, we have every confidence should have descended to such a level.