The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1885. THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2061, 6 August 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1885. THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY.

The debute on the motion of Sir Julius Voqel, that the East and West Coast (Middle Island) railway proposals be referred to a committee named by him. came to an abrupt termination yesterday afternoon, the motion being rejected in a thin House for such an important subject, by a majority of five. It 'seems as if the Government, being fully aware that the majority was against them, triad to snatch a division, on the "off chance," to use a gambling phrase, of the Opposition being caught napping. If so, they gained nothing by it. It is in the highest degree satisfactory that the proposal has notbeen allowed to pi ogress this one stage, because it is almost an absolute certainty that the committeo would have repoited in favor of the guarantee asked for by Messrs Meiggs and Sons being given. As it is extremely probable that the line would not pay even working expenses, the £97,000 per annum asked for would, of course, have to be paid. In a year or two, the districts rated for it would have found that it was a most unpleasant burden; they would have appealed to Parliament for relief, which they would have got by hook or by crook, and then the colony would have been burdened with it. We have not a few instances in the colonyof districts building railways, in connection with which they undertook certain responsibilities, which they have succeeded in shunting on lo the general taxpayer. The Government will, no doubt, understand the temper of the House a little better by this time, and drop the subject. There is, however, another side to the question, which is worthy of a little speculation —facts, we believe, have not come to light in ponnection with it. How do we know that the committee which waa sent Home came into contact with Messrs Meiggs k Son quite of their, own accord 1 There is eucb a thing as .sending a hint, and giving conditional promises of support. Such a thing has been done many a time, and there are a good many facts which point to a suspicion m the present instance. If so, Parliament has spoilt a very pretty little job. Perhaps something will come to light when the • news of the division in the House has reached Home.