THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

Southland Times, Issue 697, 17 July 1867, Page 2

THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

(to <thb editob op the southland times.) Sib^ — It appears to me, from a perusal of the numerous letters which have recently appeared in the columns of your contemporary, that the opposition to the scheme of railway construction on the .part .-of a good -many of the -writers is simply for the. sake ;of opposition, and a desire to kee.pjip,.a party -spirit, whic|h-i£ encouraged, will have .-the \ most injurious effect upon the general prosperty of the Province. I cannot discover the slightest argument advanced by those who oppose the spending of £200,000 in ..the province on reproductive works. Prom the tactics pursued by the squatters I, can well understand that the object sought is to prevent, if possible, the land from being devoted to any other purpose but that of pastoral pursuits. Now, however, agreeable such a course would, be to a favored few, it by no means follows that the great mass of the people of the Province must be made to suffer, or that they will permit such a course being followed. "We appear to overlook the fact that the construction of main trunk lines of railway, such as is contemplated in this Province, is not intended exclusively for the benefit of the people of Southland, although undoubtedly they would be the greatest gainers, but that it is for the common good of our fellow colonists in Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, and Marlborough—that cheap railways will induce settlement in the far interior — that those provinces are - initiating lines to join ours — that the provinces will be abolished beforp long,;and the : whole scheme of railways in the Middle Island will be centred in the Colonial Government, similar to what exists in other colonies —that in place of having, as at-present, only ,a few shepherds, besides the squatters, tending some thousands of sheep on beautiful and undulating grassy plains and rich soil, we would have hund^ reds of farmers possessing happy homesteads and becoming the. employers of labor — we would have contiuned immigration, because there would be a constant influx of the friends and rela?.. tions of those^ who settled on the land — we would have trade revive where now it. languishes-— -we would, not witness : so many empty houses — so many unoccupied sections— so dreary a spectacle as is presented of grass growing in pur principal thoroughfares — .of energies ''HAa«i«ned-— -of grerifiral aDathy. Tdo pot exaggerate when . I say that this country is as eminently adapted for agriculture as any in the world. I have visite : d r America, Australia, and other parts : of' New Zealand, besides thi3 Province, and nowhere have I seen: better land, finer climate, and a country so- obviously designed by Nature as the future home of thousands, than met my eye : in Southland. Many people would glaidly embark in farming if it became a profitable undertaking, as it is an occupation that most delight in. But is it profitable now ? No. Because there are no roads to the seaport town, !no enouragement offered to the man ! of capital to locate in Invercargill, to purchase produce to sell in a profitable market, and hence farming does not pay, ' nor will it pay until an export market is found. The nature of the country in Southland, being almost a dead level, and the scarcity- of metal available for road^ makingj will always - prevent -us from looking to roads as a means of communication — hence the necessity of encouraging the railway scheme and returning none but pledged men to support it. But why is there any opposition to railways ? Because I may ( be told that it is owing to the gross mismanagement and fraud that was perpetrated formerly in their construction. But does this argument apply to the present idea of railway extension ? Yes;. we are afraid of entrusting any executive with so much money to spend. Such is the argument used by those who do not look deeper than the surface. Such is the mode of thinking of the unreflecting mind. There was, so much jobbery alleged to have been perpetrated on railways that the whole topic was unpopular, and hence the easy victory of the squatters at the last Council.- But let anyone consider that the same argument as is advanced by those who would not entrust any Executive with the spending of the money for railways, would apply to the expending of £200,000 in the construction of roads, the building of bridges, &c., and will it not become apparent that such objections are fallacious. . I can understand why the squatters should argue so, but I cannot., understand the same mode of reasoning when applied to those who have made this Province their future home. But the General Government, if it ever agrees to finish the railways, will never consent to hand over the power of construction to us. They will, on the contrary, take good care that the whole management will be in their own tada, T&ey h^ hsd

plenty of experience of the past, and will never again allow money to be. user lessly squandered. This "^ Province, I venture to predict, will [ not be in existence in two years, supposing- it to survive this session; norj,J3o,lp n g; % s ** does, remain, one,, wi]l>the p|esen^ or, any future Superintendent "or be entrusted^ith the; execution of any larger public work than^. perhaps the construction of^mile^r two of road in places where mos^needed. But a Superintendent with squatting proclivities at the present mom^nt'cbuld ru^ tm^'^Pfovince. It would be his policy to quarrel purposely with -the General Government, asrijy thair means he would delay the : railways from being ~ finished." T-hp General ; r Government, not being thoroughly acquainted : with public feeling ohere, f would ; naturally, blame the people for the.i fault; of a Superintendent, ..... and thus our only chance - ; wouj.d be, frittered away. But : I have more confidence in the. good sense of my fellow colonists in- the- Province than :to .suppose that when the $ime arrives for action, that such an unfortunate and disastrous policy will ;be adopted! On the question of railways and Superintendent —as long' as there is oner— pledged to. 'support their construction, the future prosperity of the Province. — or. its rapid ruinfahd desolation depends;— Yours, &c., - Air Old Colonist. Waikiyi^ July 12,, 1867., ■ ■ , _ •