THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 16, l910. COGENT EVIDENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10045, 16 May 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 16, 1910. COGENT EVIDENCE.

The growth of New Zealand from the point of view of dollars is unquestionable, and there is other evidence of the fact than the record revenue of the last financial year. The large sums expended by the Government on public buildings is proof of how greatly the wealth of the country is growing, and it is also cogent evidence of how much more vigour is needed on the part of the GovernI ment in the work of settling the country. Our revenue is over nine millions, while our population is • under one millnn—truly a remarkable state of affairs, and one which should not be complacently viewed by the inhabitants of the country. New Zealand requires a larger population more than anything else, but, j unfortunately, the Government are I more inclined to erect huge public buildings than to increase the population of the country by like methods. Adequate public buildings are, of course, necessary, and they cannot be built without the expenditure of large sums of money, but it is obvious that a Government anxious, perhaps, to iind favcur with city constituencies rather than closely studying the needs of the country could easily expend a few hundred thousands more than necessary—money that would be infinitely better spent on land settlement.

When receiving a deputation in sup- I port of the new railway station in Wellington the other day the Premier said:—"J am quite in accord with you in regard to the necessity for a new railway station. I think one is required, and I hope, if at a>ny time in the future you hear any other people comdemning me "or providing a railway station in Wellington, you will have a word or two to say in defence of it." Sir Joseph added that he had found people quite ready to ! cry out against a man who had complied with their desires for public necessities, telling him that he had over-provided. The Dunedin railway station, which was always mentioned in this connection, cost £49,000, and the ornateness consisted of a very necessary verandah which was made in the railway workshops. Seeing that the Dunedin station, supposed to be so elaborate, had coat £49,0u0, his hearers would no doubt be surprised to find that the expendi ture which would be necessary in Wellington to provide a suitable but not ornate building, with yards and goof-sheds, was estimated at between £300,000 and £400,000. In the plan which was now under consideration, one not by any means as expansive as at. iirst contemplated —the estimate for carrying out these works was £215,000. The station cculd not be gone on with until the completion of the reclamation whk'ft was well advanced, and until the requirements of the duplicated Hutt railway were known to the department. What the Government was going to do at a cost of a few hundred thousands to provide facilities for a railway impinging on a great seaport cost many millions in the older ciantiies. To the unithted £215,000 suems to be quite enough for a new station at Wellington, and we sincerely trust that the day when "many millions" will be expended on a station is far distant in this Dominion; at any rate, until a little more has baen dond in the matter of land settlement.