New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4409, 7 May 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1875.

•» The deputation from the Chamber of ■ Commerce which interviewed the Minister for Public Works yesterday, elicited a great deal of valuable information, aa Mr. Duncan naively remarked. Indeed, nothing could well be clearer, fuller, or franker than the explanation given by Mr. Richardson. He defended his own administration with spirit, and availed himself of the occasion to reply to the opening speech of the Superintendent. Of course, no one had an opportunity of knowing the facts so well as Mr. Richardson, and ws agree with him in thinking that it was unfortunate' he was absent during the discussion of the question, or he would hardly have made himself responsible for the explanatory memorandum addressed to the Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Reynolds. It simply explained nothing ; but it also left the question in a more unsatisfactory position than before its publication. However, that is now matter of history. It was simply the shell ; we have now got at the kernel ; and on Mr. Richardson's showing, it should be pronounced sweet and palatable, and ought to be gratefully relished by the good people of Wellington. Well, wo have reported the interview at length, and it is for the public to draw their own conclusions. We have a few words, however, to say for ourselves. We disclaim altogether the imputation of having twisted Mr. Duncan's remarks at tho Chamber of Commerce, in any way, or for any purpose. We simply accepted them as giving expression to public opinion, and as being warranted by the circumstances. And the explanation of Mr. Richardson yesterday justifies us in doing so. What are the facts? Simply these, that the road from Masterton to the Manawatu Gorge is not completed, and apparently cannot bo finished this season ; that the contractors on the line of the Wellington and Masterton railway have not been offered bonuses to accelerate construe- . tion ; and that there is no probability of j:

the line to Featherston being opened within contract time. Indeed, there is a strong probability that an extension of time will be asked for. These are the facts upon which we commented ; and when we asked the reason why, we were furnished with a delusive memorandum from the Public Works Department. Mr. Richardson has now given public the reasons for the state of things complained of, and from his stand-point these are conclusive. But there are reasons and reasons; and it is our duty, as journalists, in the public interest, to analyse the reasons which the Minister for Public Works has urged as a complete defence of his administrative acts. We shall deal perfectly fairly with him and the Government; we shall deal equally fairly with the Provincial Government, and with the public. The whole explanation of the Minister for Public Works may be summed up in the one point: want of labor, occasioned in part by the natural objection men have to a disagreeable job when they can get the same wages at easier work, but chiefly by the competition for labor by the Provincial Government, which has been carrying on public works in the same district. The first is a cause which only a plethora of labor could remedy ; the second, as we take it, is by no means exceptional. In other provinces, notably in Otago and Canterbury, the provincial authorities compete with the General Government for, labor, and this competition will last aB long as" the provinces exist and have money to spend. If the Provincial Government of Wellington employed avail- j able labor on works of public utility, without offering, by themselves or contractors, higher rates of wages than the contractors under the Public Works Department were paying, we fail to perceive why this fact should have been insisted upon so strongly at the interview. The expenditure of both Governments was to promote settlement; and although it is a misfortune that they should come into competition for labor, we cannot admit this competition as an excuse for one_ of the competitors, and that the one having the longest purse, not pushing vigorously forward with a work the importance of which Mr. Richardson admits. We refer, in this instance, to the Masterton and Manawatu road. The remedy would appear to be to introduce more labor. It is remarkable, however, that in the other provinces where similar competition exists there is no complaint, by the contractors of the General Government, that the provincial contractors' induce their men to leave. Our opinion is, that if all the contractors had taken the same pains to procure labor as Mr. McKiedy has done, there would have been no pretence for such an excuse on their behalf.

With regard to the railway line, we recognise the force of Mr. Richardson's remarks. The explanation regarding the Chain Hilk and Deborah Bay tunnels, and the Auckland and Waikato line, is satisfactory ; so also is his explanation of the Masterton road. We have no desire to be hypercritical; but we have a very strong desire indeed that the facts of the case should be known, and beyond the objection already taken by us we have not a word to say. With regard to the other point raised at the interview, namely, the relative expenditure under the Public Works and Immigration policy, in Wellington and Hawke's Bay, it is perfectly clear that this province has nothing to complain of. On the contrary, it has every reason to be satisfied ; but it is unfortunate this topic should have been raised. However, with the challenge which Mr. Fitzherbert threw down to the Provincial Council, Mr. Richardson could not well avoid referring to it. The only point at all open to comment was that arising from apparent delay in completing the works under contract in this province : we now know the reason why, and every one may form his own opinion of its value. But two new points came up during the interview, which may not be overlooked. We refer to the statement by the Minister for Public Works, first, that the line across the Wairarapa plain to Masterton has not been determined, and that the appropriation would only suffice for the line to Featherston ; second, that in consequence of the excess of contract price over estimate, the Government could not undertake the railway wharf without fresh appropriation. The Government would consider the latter question, and determine what was to be done ; but a vote would be asked to complete the upcountry line. Now, inasmuch as the railway wharf was part and parcel of the Wellington and Masterton railway scheme approved by Parliament, and as the General Government have made ample reservations for stations, &c, on the foreshore of the harbor, we hold it to be incumbent on them to construct a railway wharf, which the Government engineers say is required to complete the work. While expressing this opinion, we do not wish, it to be understood that Mr. Richardson holds a different view. The position is somewhat changed, however, and owing to Ijje miscalculation of cost in the estimate of 1871, from the difficult nature of the country, Ministers will be called upon to consider whether the original plan should be carried out or be modified by rejecting the railway wharf. Public faith requires the original plan to be carried out in its integrity ; and we have too high an opinion of the Government to suppose that any other thought would enter into their minds. But here we would remind Mr. Levin, that whether the Government construct a railway wharf or not, the duty* is none the less incumbent on the City Council to provide suitable wharf and quay accommodation for the general traffic of the city. His remark, however, on this subject leads us to infer that he is of opinion the City Council should do nothing to facilitate the over-sea and coastal traffic, if the General Government intend erecting a railway wharf within the next year or two. If so, we regret that a gentleman of so much influence, as a merchant, and as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, should entertain such an opinion, as it will certainly be pleaded as a justification for doing nothing to relieve the existing block of traffic by the city authorities