CONSISTENCY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 319, 18 November 1880, Page 2

CONSISTENCY.

We take the following from a con-

temporary : A line of railway named Main Lino to Upper As iburton, was projected by the Grey Ministry and commenced by them. In the Railway Commissioners’ Report this line was recommended. Indeed there was a coincidence about this recommendation we may note. This line will benefit the land of Mr. Wright one of the Commissioners, just as the line recommended near Oamaru would enhance the value f >f Mr. Reid’s land, and so on. But this was a coincidence only. On this line, from the beginning of the financial year till the end of -Inly, there were liabilities amounting to about LBOOO ; and with- the expenditure and liabilities incurred up to the time of the voting of the estimates, wo suppose it would have taken L4OOO to cover the amount to be paid su poirng no new work was done. This b-ing. so there was a vote taken for the LIOOO only, thus showing if the vote could show, that no new work was to be done on this branch, and if we had only to rely on mere inference from votes—and unless the money was voted, there was no authority to expend it—this would be conclusive. But what have the Ministry done ! They have invited tenders for an extension of this lino for eight miles, thus pledging the Parliament to go on with the work, and this when no money lias been voted. But that is not all. This main line to Upper Ashburton is the only branch lino in the Middle Island for which tenders have been called ? But it may be said, Does not the voting of the L-4000 show that it was the intention of the Ministry and Parliament to proceed, with the work ? If such a reply were made, we have a conclusive answer. In the Public Works Statement of 1880 it was deliberately omitted . The Hon. Mr. Oliver (see ‘ Hansard,’ Ho. 22, p. 159) says, “ I will now proceed, sir, to briefly summarise the works proposed.” Then lollows a list of all the works to be done, and the main line to Ashburton is not in the summary. The ,only branches on the main line from Amberley to Oamaru to be undertaken are.part of Oxford-Sheffield line, Opawa branch to Fairlie Creek, Ellesmere section of the Little River and Akaroa branch,-Duntroon branch across Marewhenua River; Here,-then, is a branch line for which tenders are advertised Tor, fur which no money has’been voted,.and which was not proposed by the Ministry in the Public Works statement . Why, then, this illegal action of the Ministry? Why is it that the only tenders asked for in the whole Middle Island are tenders for a branch railway that Parliament did not authorise to be constructed!; We cannot reply. It is possible its construction may please Mr. Wright and his constituents. There is not any other excuse we can think of. The branch is the worst paying branch in the Middle Island. Of its receipts, according to last returns, the percentage of expenditure was 355 ■ 29. That is about 3% times the revenue received was expended in working-it? Why, then, this latest Ministerial job ? Is it that as the Telegraph Department had its little job, the Treasury Department its

.Pollen Pension job, the Native Department its Patetere Block job, and, in order not to ,seem, singular, the Public Works Department must distinguish itself by perpetrating this latent Min-, isterial job; UfcoursejYh^Mrimstw (?il Press are silent. None* of them have alluded to any- of the prior, jobs. They I)aye: not recorded the transactions even without comment, u aTess ”wliat their telegraphic summaries stated. They write enough of the “ pure moral ” Government and the Ministry’s ‘'patriotism,’’but this grossly .illegal action they never mention. [ls this the same Mr Wright that condemned The Tern aka Oxford lino and wanted to strip the bridge- and leave the piles as a memorial of Mr Macanr drew’s fully.— Ed. Leader.]