WHAT ARK PUBLIC WORKS?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5439, 2 September 1878, Page 2

WHAT ARK PUBLIC WORKS?

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir,—A careful perusal of the Public Works Statement will convince any impartial person that it is not deserving of the title. As a statement of the past and future policy in respect to railways, it betrays a great deal of careful study and a certain amount of comprehensive ability in its treatment, but nothing more. Let the Statement speak for itself. Out of' a total of fourteen pages, eleven are devoted to railways, one and a-half to other public works, and one and a-half to a general summary, nine-tenths of which summary is on railway topics. The old definition of public works included roads, bridges, railways, harbors, canals, and public buildings as essential parts of the subject; a bare enumeration of them in the Statement would almost fill up the space raserved to them.

Mr. Macandrew’s own words are :—“ Altogether I confess this is one of the most difficult problems we are called upon to solve, and there can be, in my opinion, only one out of two solutions possible—either the colony should close its bowels of compassion in respect of every application for roads'or bridges • • • or it should - distribute its gifts on some equitable basis.” Discarding the latter, bo says—“Thereremains only the one solution of every locality relying on itself.”

The yearly expenditure on railways proposed in the next five years is £1,677,000; on roads to Crown lands for this one year only is £58.590. Those who own lands arbitrarily assessed at a value of £1 per acre, to be henceforth subject to a land-tax, which the Colonial Treasurer maintains ought some day to meet the whole interest on the loans expended in public works. These landowners may well doubt the effect of the radical changes introduced by the present Ministry. T’be fortunate few who reside in the immediate neighborhood of the railways may perhaps regard the prospect with equanimity, but the mass of the land-owning class may well doubt tbeir ability to meet the charge made on land rendered no more productive and increased very little in value by tbe public works constructed some few miles distant. It should never be forgotten that hundreds of thousands acres in New Zealand are pastaral land, and must remain so, that tbe wool-sack in this colony represents the wealth, of the community as fully now as it did three centuries ago in England, • Harbors and roads are the wants of the wool-growers generally, even more than railroads. Railroads require feed lines to be profitable ; a main drain fop traffic, without either roads or bnnoh-lin“s to swell the stream, is but an incomplete and imperfect work. Predictions are unsafe, but there are not wanting many signs to show that the House will this yerr insist upon come great principle being decided upon, by which ail the lands of the colony, as they are to bear the cost, shall also share the benefits of the public works policy. In every debate, almost in every speech this week, the question of main roads has forced its way into notice. Mr. Macandrew’s attempt to cut the Gordian knot, by throwing the burden of maintenance of all roads and bridges on the locality, without even inquiring or caring whether those bodies,are able to bear the burden or hot is only another proof how few men there arc capable of legislating for tbe diverse interests of a whole country. The figures quoted by Mr. Moss were significantHokiauga County levied as rates £73, and received as subsidies £232, equal to £BIO as a total revenue. Geraldine County levied rates to tbo extent of £3906, and had subsidies amounting to £173,965, and was in the happy possession of a credit balance in tho bank of £151,967. I believe these figures to be approximately correct, but am unable to cheek them by reference to the documents.

The uneq\ial distribution of wealth has been cavilled at by individuals, but personal qualifications can hardly be a disturbing influence in the consideration of counties. Yet Hokianga County, starving on £3OO a-year, will have to maintain its roads without assistance, while Geraldine County could almost pave its streets with gold. Both towns and rich counties may rejoice in the high authority that affords a precedent by saying, “ unto him that hath shall be given, and from him that hath not shall be ■ taken away even that which ho hath.” The Harbor Board question deserves more space than you would be disposed to give me at present.—l am, &c., Y. September 1.