The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3947, 23 August 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1881.

We have in previous articles expressed our views in unmistakeable language iv reference to the undesirability of granting the lands of the Colony, as proposed in the Kailway Construction Bill, to speculators and railway companies, who undertake to construct lines of railways which the Government of the colony have not the means to prosecute. We unhesitatingly say that in principle it is wrong to grant large blocks of land for such purposes, as by such means not only will the State be defrauded of a large portion of its estate for a comparatively small sum, but great abuses are sure to follow. In fact, the State has everything to lose and nothing to gain by adopting such a policy. It seems somewhat strange that a Ministry who, in dealing with the Waste Lands of the colony, propose to expend money in opening up the same by roads, bridges, &c, using the argument that by so doing the value of the estate would be increased, and the Crown more than compensated for the outlay when the lands were sold, • cannot see that such arguments are of equal force when the subject under discussion is iron instead of macadamised roads. But this is only another of the many inconsistancies for which the members of the present Cabinet are becoming famous. In the House last night, Mr Hall moved i the second reading of the Kailway Con-

struction Bill, and a long discussion fol» lowed. The Premier-did not appear so resolute •in speaking oa the bill as lie usually is when discussing a Government measure, and admitted that the bill was capable of being improved in Committee. Sir George Grey ex pressed disapproval of the principle of the bill, and characterised its introduction as calculated to change the entire future of the colony, and that not in a beneficial manner. It will be remembered that our senior member, in his late address to his constituents, was asked his opinion about giving land to railways companies, and then he most emphatically condemned the proposal. He evidently holds the same opinion still; as may be gathered from his speech last night. We very |niuch question if tho bill passes this session, and if it does, it will be very different in character from what it was when first introduced.