THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1882. LAST NIGHT’S MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 261, 26 August 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1882. LAST NIGHT’S MEETING.

Wb most heartily welcome the meeting of last night with respect to the Northern Hallway extension as a sign that at last the people of Canterbury are awakening from the apathy which has beset them for years past on all questions of public importance, affecting their interests, as well as those of the colony at large. To this apathy, in a great degree, is attributable the loss of the influence which Canterbury, in the old days, used to exercise over the politics of the colony, "With such men as Weld, Fitz Gerald, Crosbio Ward and others to lead us, the voice of the people was heard on many occasions when measures of importance were being discussed, and it was respected. If in those palmy days, when giants in the matter of intellect represented Canterbury, it was necessary for the people to express their opinion as a guide for their representatives, how much more necessary is it now? Our Parliament has deteriorated steadily, but surely, from an Assembly of which any country in the world might bo proud, to one which stands on a level with a parish

debating club. The public time is wasted, nothing is done, and the time is fast approaching when the people—unless some radical change takes place—will demand more local self-governing power, feeling assured that our interests would bo far better attended to by a body like our own City Council. The people of Christchurch have, for some reason or other, been sublimely indifferent to matters connected with their interests, as regards the Assembly. Whilst other parts of the colony have been keenly alive to what they wanted, and have unmistafceably informed their representatives of their desire, Canterbury has been content to become the milch cow of the colony, and to let her members coquette and turn as they pleased, not for the benefit of the district, but their personal aggrandisement. Why should this be so ? If out people—as we rejoice to see they are now —only asserted their right to watch over the legislation of Parliament, and to lift up their voice when such a glaring injustice as that now proposed in regard to the East Coast Railway is contemplated, then Canterbury would take her proper position. Her influence would bo recognised, and no Ministry wonld dara to propose such a deliberate job as the East Coast Railway. But it has not been so in the past. The people havo been content to be, as liongfellow puts it.

like “ cattle dumb driven in the strife.” But we trust the meeting of last night is an augury that these days are over, and that henceforth we shall not be handed over, bound hand and foot, to the mercies of the North Island, for that is really what it means. Open the West Coast line, and the timber trade of Auckland, Ac., suffers considerable diminution. But as regards the interests of Canterbury, whether commercial or industrial, they must benefit, and that largely, by the opening up and bringing nearer to the consumers of the vast national resources of the West Coast. ' Not alone Canterbury, but the colony as a whole will benefit if this is done, but who can have the hardihood to stand up and say the same regarding the projected East Coast opens up nothing. All its utility, if such

it can be called, will be to afford one gentleman an easy transit to bis estate. Bat is the colony, and especially the great body of taxpayers, to be called upon to spend tbeir hard earned money for the benefit of these wool kings, “ who toil not, neither do they spin P” They, and each as they, have had by far too great an influence in New Zealand politics, particularly as regards railway construction already, and any more will be yet a greater mistake and disaster. That this influence has been used in regard to the East Coast line must be apparent to ibe most casual observer, and pressure must be brought to bear on the members of the House and the Government to make them put aside the consideration of the measure of wealth to perhaps half a dozen millionaires in favor of the interests of the whole community. These are the issues involved in the question. East v West Coast railway. In fact it is money against the general interests of the colony, and it is sad to find that any Ministry should for the sake of retaining the few votes the monied interest can influence, and thus retain their grasp of power, to wilfully close their eyes to what is the true interest of New Zealand as a whole. We say wilfully, because no body of men can, without deliberately refusing to see, ignore the advantages not only to one of the largest and most prosperous dictricts of the colony, but to the whole of New Zealand, which would be derived by the completion of the West Coast line, and the development of the great mineral and other resources of that district. We trust that the voice of Canterbury will be heard with no uncertain sound on this matter, and that such pressure will be brought to bear on the Canterbury members and the Government as will make it imperative on them to recognise our just claims to consideration in the matter.