The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1885. THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1372, 30 July 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1885. THE WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Thb Weal Coast Railway is the sensation of the hour. Wellington and Christchurch seem to be on the verged insanity over it. As regards the pro* posal of the Government, the New Zealand Times says it is “so astounding in its unblushing effrontery, its reckless extravagance, its barefaced disregard of all common prudence, that it is difficult to regard it except as a joke.” The Evening Post says it is “ one of the most utterly disreputable proposals which any Government ever ventured to place before any Legislature.” The Evening Press (Mr Wakefield’s paper) says “ the whole transaction is thoroughly corrupt, totally destructive of sound politics, and extremely degrading to the character of the Legislature.” Feeling must run very high where articles of this nature appear in the three papers. But this is nothing compared with the excitement which prevails in the districts affected. In the towns on the West Coast, Nelson and North Canterbury, the people appear to have gone clean “ off their heads ” over it. Public meetings have been held everywhere, and speeches as wild as the articles above quoted have been delivered. Even poetry has been written on the subject. North Canterbury, the West Coast and Nelson are just as unreasonable in their support of the proposal as Wellington appears to bo in its opposition to it. There is one thing which appears to trouble North Canterbury: an! it is that South Canterbury is not in favor of it. It appears only reasonable to some of the speakers that South Canterbury|should be enthusiastic in its support of the railway. We are not aware that South Canterbury troubles itsalf much about the matter ; but before discussing this point more fully we shall place before our readers the exact facts as they appear to us. About three years ago an agitation which had been going on for some time previously with regard to this railway assumed a definite shape. A company—or more properly speaking a league—was formed in the districts interested, and a sufficient sum of money to defray the expenses of survey was subscribed. Two surveyors reported very favorably on the project, and then two prominent Christchurch citizens were deputed to examine the proposed line. The latter reported that it would not pay, and that it could not be profitably constructed and managed by a private company, bnt recommended that the Government should construct it. Here, then, was a nice beginning. According to these two worthies, the Government should construct a line which would not pay, and tax all New Zealand from Auckland to the Bluff for it. This led, if we remember rightly, to the Government ordering Government Engineers to report oh the railway. The report was to the effect that it would not pay for “ grease for the wheels of the railway carriages.” The matter hung fire for some time, but was resuscitated at the last general election, and it was included in Sir Julius Yogel’s schemes last session. An Act was passed empowering the Government to contract with a syndicate to construct this line, and, when constructed, the syndicate was to receive 50 per cent, of its cost in land. For instance, supposing the railway cost £2,000,000, the syndicate would receive £1,000,000 worth of land. These terms appear to us liberal enough. The syndicate would have a railway, for which they paid £2,000,000, and £1,000,000 worth of land. If the railway is worth making, they would have a magnificent property. The railway ought, if worth making, pay working expenses, and £1,000,000 worth of land ought to yield sufficient to pay interest on the £2,000,000 invested in in its construction. Under the Act it is provided that the cost of the line from Christchurch to the West Coast shall not exceed £1,500,000, and the branch line to Nelson £1,000,000, making altogether £2,500,000. Thus the actual amount which the (State would pay would be £1,250,000, It is found now I that the actual cost of the line would be !

£3,860,000, and, of course, the £1,250,000 which is the limit the Governmeut can give, would not be altogether equal to 50 per cent, on the cost of construction. The firm of contractors and financiers to whom the subject has been submitted evidently think this not sufficient, and now ask that the whole of the colony shall guarantee the payment of per cent, over working expenses, which will amount to £97,000 a year, for the next 20 years. Sir Julius Vogel has submitted this to the House, and as a part of the proposal he suggests that 1 per cent, of this per cent, should be a direct tax on Canterbury (north of the Kangitata), Nelson, and Westland. This is the proposal which is creating all the excitement at present. It is a very important subject—one involving the expenditure of a large sum of money on a work which in all probability will not pay. We have all along held that this line is unnecessary. We hold that water carriage is much cheaper than railway carriage, and that if the line were built to-morrow the goods would still go by water. In that case, as the land is unfit for settlement, there would be no intermediate traffic, and the line could not pay. And now as regards the question : How would it affect South Canterbury ? It would not do us ons bit of good. It would neither lighten our burdens nor brighten our prospects in the least, The most telling effect it would have is that it would take away the working men, and leave our farmers unable to get laborers when they required them. But it would give a great deal ot employment ; it would be a great boon to working men for the next three years ; it would hush the cry of the unemployed, and it is on that point alone we should be willing to support it, We think it would be better for the colony to build the line straight out than to give the guarantee. The result of giving the guarantee would be this : We should give £1,250,000 worth of land, and. if called upon to do so, £97,000 for 20 years, which would, in the aggregate, amount to as much as the total cost of the line ; and then the line would be the property of the syndicate : whereas if we made the line, it would bo a splendid heritage to leave to the next generation of colonists.