The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30,1885. CONTEMPORARY OPINION.'

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1495, 31 October 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1885. CONTEMPORARY OPINION.'

Referring to the Government intention to appropriate the North Island Railway loan to general expenditure, the Auckland 'Star says : — " There is this merit about Sir Julius Vogel's methods: when he means to perform any feat of political legerdemain he is careful to ex-, hibithis apparatus m full view of the gullible public, with the usual showman's phrase, * Everything fair you see ;no deception ! ' It is to tliie admirable and ingenious trait of Sir Julius Vogel's character that we are indebted for the full,, true* and particular account of how the great * Cabinet : trick \ is, to be performed of placing a million pounds sterling m a securely sealed casket, and by the words,.' Presto, change, 1 and wave of the magic wand transferring the million, into a lot pf , little matchboxes, arranged on the

stage." After discussing the • subject, the article, concludes-— ".The prince of political conjurers, we. should add, is not only profuse, -but" gracious. ' He adds to the telegram this delicious clause — 'I have given you this, lengthy explanation, but of course the simple answer to your question is Governmentdoes'notintend to do anything but what the law? requires. 1 •* What law requires.' 1 We thank thee, Julius, for teaching us that word, but we claim that I acjtion m this matter should proceed on lines of higher law than that of the hucksterer and stock-jobber — the law, to wit, of political honesty and good faith; Tf>we get what that law requires, we shall get the million loan devoted* as soon as raised, to the trunk railway to connect the centres of population m the North Island. 'It is just possible that Ministers hope by this procedure to ! coerce the Northern members into sanctioning . the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway. There could be no more stupendous mistake committed. It is not with the warmth of a fervid prophet who dimly foresees calamity, but-with the calm assurance of a. mathematician stating a demonstration that we warn Ministers that the result of persevering m this • policy will not be only certain defeat of the infamous railway 'party, but the downfall of the Stout- Vogel Government. That is what another ' law ' will require — the law of retribution, which, though sometimes deferred m its operation, is uhfaliing and sure." The Herald closes an article on the same subject thus ;--" We should think that lawy not to mention.common honesty arid justice, requires that money, borrowed under the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Act should- be devoted to that purpose, and no other, but- Sir Julius Yogel sees the/ opportunity of having the whip hand ofNprth Island members during next session, , and .compelling ' them '- to yield to them m regard to the construction of the.- East and .We^t Railway I . ' The money for the House meets, and if the work is to be con- ; ,tinue4we must authorise ] further borrowing, and this must include provision for the East and West Coast Railway. The North Island members may conscientiously think that there should bt no further borrowing, and that we should be content with spending the money already authorised, but then Ministers will say the money you authorised for the Trunk Railway is already gone on other things, and you must continue to borrow."