The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1880.

Temuka Leader, Issue 251, 1 May 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1880.

The .vay the the New Zealand Governmerit is squandering the funds of the colony on a Royal Commission, in such a time of depression as the country is just now enveloped in, is a perfect disgrace to all concerned. Only yesterday we learned that the the Local Industry Commission had split up and parted into two heads. No doubt there has been a toss up f r who should get the sunny plains, and who would have to take the hills and mountains, with their rugged tops. It is hardly to be expected that the subtile Chairman would say : ‘‘ If you choose the left, then I will take the right.” In any case we find it reported that tho august family had split in two,each party carrying along with it a chairman and a shorthand writer, lest any of the valuable information should be lost sight of. Such a characature upon the title of “ Royal ” it has not been our lot to witness. What on. earth is the use of a lot of newspaper editors, and bosses of a hundred or two factory girls roaming abmmt the . country, gathering information that the 'Government has received from the various Road Boards, Chamber of Commerce, County Councils and other Public-bodies over and over again, and in a form much more to he depended upon than can be got from this flying squadron ? Really, it is time the people were more up in arms against this iniquity than they are. The words, of the prophet, addressed to the worshippers of Baal, are most inapt in this case. Well may the friends of the Conservative Ministry exclaim : “Are our Gods on a journey, or pursuing their enemies* or poradvenlure they sleepeth ?” Whatever has come over them. There is no denying that the Conservative fraternity; are becoming alarmed, and grave fears are; no doubt in many minds, that the high latitude to which they have scrambled up to, in some way, has turned their heads. The lightness of the air ; the freedom from pecuniary cares, and the pride of place, has fairly upset their equilibrium. Only fancy a small off-shoot from this flying squadron, alighting for an hour here and half an hour there, to touch with one tap of their official mallet, and the whole structure of our railway scheme is pronounced a falacy. Really,it is marvellous how the people stand such absurdities. An engineer or a contractor visits some district that the Assembly (on the recommendation of their most able servants) had decided to build a railway ; and, after a bird’s-eye view ( f the district, forebade the whole thing. It is a most extraordinary procedure, quite incomprehensible to any sensible person. In Britain, when any railways were surveyed,the promoters had to apply a Parliamentary Railway Committee with information, who had to decide the mattir. Not by a flying visit to the district, to rush over it like tho sound of a mighty wind, but by inviting every important settler and business man in the district, for which such line was proposed to be made, and in open Court examined these gentlemen upon oath as to the necessities for such'expenditure, on tho probability of its paying before they recommended the sanction of Parliament; but here we have a few gentlemen, some of whom, if we judge of past, experience, have as little knowledge of the business in hand as “Paddy Murphy’s” pig. Nevertheless we are told that no tenders will be accepted until the Commission reports. If they say, nay, it is laid aside notwithstanding that the money may have been voted for it by a full house of our representatives, unless it may be that soire of their chiefs have any vested interest in the district. In that case, the case being altered, alters the case. The coming winter promises to press harder on tho working classes and small tradesmen, than any winter that has yet passed over their heads. Yet, in the face of almost starvation staring them in the face,our Government resolves to stop public works. When the Hall Government got their opponents jostled aside, by the ingenious manoeuvring of its head, and the unfaithfulness of some of their opponents to their leaders, most people outside felt inclined to give them a trial, although few give Mr Hall credit tor pure patriotism when he threw up his place in tho Upper House, it is only giving publicity to the pentup feelings of the great mass, when we state that the colony is grievously disappointed. Notwithstanding the bolstering up of a few time-serving journals, it is quite plain why they utter such fluttering sentiments, as they do from time to time, with bated breath. It is quite evident that they have no hearty sympathy with such sentiments, and their heart swells with fear, lest the country get up in a blaze about their ears and hurl their idols from such unnaturally high pedestals, Tire financial state of this colony, at the present time, is such as requires the greatest economy in management, and the greatest circumspection in dealing with all its public affairs. Yet the very reverse seems to be tho policy of our present rulers. Tho North Island is monopolising nearly all their attention. How to propitiate, a handful of half-naked savages seems to so exhaust fchoir little energy, that nothing is loft in the shape of brains to mature any scheme, having

for its object the amelioration of the suf-

fering - seniors, or for desiring any scl.em ; for extending the trade or commerce of the colony, or to help to keep its place amongst the Natives of the world, secured for it by the large-minded Sir Julius Vogel. It is much to bo regretted that our rulers have no greater spread of mind than that which teaches them to reduce the business of the colony as the only way to get out of nur monitory difficulties. Contrasting the feeble energies of the Hall Government with the large-minded legislators, who push ahead the Colony of New South Wales, we are compelled to exclaim: “Tile glory is departed,; woe to our rulers when they become like women or, little children,” ;