The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Tuesday, May 15, 1900. THE GOVERNMENT POLICY FORESHADOWED.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 4052, 15 May 1900, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Tuesday, May 15, 1900. THE GOVERNMENT POLICY FORESHADOWED.

Although the Hon. J. G. Ward disclaimed any intention of making a political speech, when speaking at a social to celebrate the opening of a new post office at Masterton, it is very evident that he foreshadowed the policy of the Government. The people of New Zealand had reason, he said, to hold up their heads, as this country was second to none in the civilised world. The fact could not be gainsaid that she that day stood higher in the estimation of the world than she had ever done in the memory of man. This was due to the fact that the people were behind the leaders of public thought. If New Zealand required to-morrow to go upon the London market she would obtain a higher price than she had ever done in her history—higher than many of the neighbouring colonies, which had larger populations. We had already shown that we had won back the respect, esteem and support of the people of London, and had thereby raised the credit of the country and the interests of the people in every walk of life. Fortunately, our credit was on the right side, with a surplus of half a million, whatever might be said to the contrary. Out of the revenue this country had contributed a very large sum indeed towards the despatch of the Contingents to South Africa. In addition to this, enormous concessions were to be given to the people in the matter of railway facilities, which would prove a benefit to the producers and the country at large. The railway machine of this country was, and ought to be, utilised to enable the people in the outlying settlements to make the best use of their oppor tunities, and to get their produots as cheaply as possible to the seaboard, and their families to the towns ; and it was the duty of the Government to give as much back out of the earnings of the Railway Department as possible. The intentions of the Government in the matter of increased railway facilities would be announced before long. While it was somewhat premature to disclose the policy of the Government, he was entitled to say this—that it would be in the direction of further progress; the acquisition of additional estates, and the cutting of them up for the benefit of the people. Many men who were formerly opposed to this policy had since come to look upon it as a blessing, for it had been recognised by

thq Government that a fair price should be paid for the estates acquired for closer settlement. It was also in the interest of all classes that they should be able to obtain cheap money. They must have money to enable them to compete in the emporium of the world. There never was a time in the history of New Zealand when there was so much money to use legitimately as now ; never a time when the savings, as disclosed by the Savings Bank returns, were so great. Broadly put, the policy of the Government would be to enable the people to use the railways at a reasonable price; the acquisition and cutting up of estates for settlement purposes; cheap money .for the use of the people; and cheap frieghts to convey their produce across the water to where they had to be sold. It was necessary for this country to annihilate distance, and to place the people in as good a position as those in the neighbouring colonies with regard to the London markets. RIVER ENCROACHMENT. A question that will require serious consideration in the near future is the encroachment of the Waipawa river below the railway bridge. A. large sum has already been expended in protecting the approaches to the bridge, but unless measures are taken speedily to strengthen the banks of the river below the bridge much damage is likely to accrue after a heavy flood, and the safety of the structure will surely be imperilled. The flood waters have slowly but surely washed away a great portion of the Maori land aud flooded much more. During the winter it is probable that the floods will cut through the bank just below the bridge, and a large area of land, the property of the natives, and a paddock belonging to the Mount Vernon estate will be inundated. If the river were to cut a passage there serious consequences would follow and a large expenditure of money would be necessary. We think the Government should be approached to devise means to confine the watei’3 to their natural course for the protection of the railway bridge, and doubtless some arrangement could be arrived at between them and the owners of the land that is threatened to be washed away.