WATER SUPPLY.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 818, 30 May 1871, Page 2

WATER SUPPLY.

The "Otago Daily Times" thus writes on the subject of the Government scheme of water supply on the Goldfields :—The dotation of £300,000 to water supply on the Goldfields is, perhaps, the weakest point in the Government scheme. By what means the Treasurer estimated that £300,000 was adequate for even the special works to which he designated it, he did not choose to enlighten the Assembly. Strange to say no one appears to have thought it worth while to ask him. When he first introduced his scheme the figures stood at £200,000. This sum had probably been fitted in it to make up a round million along with others as to which he had more definite ideas. "When the modifications of the scheme were announced to Parliament, other items had been cut down ; but this had been increased. These modifications were professedly concessions from the original idea, made with a view of securing a good majority in the House. The extra £IOO,OOO for water supply on the Goldfields may be presumed to have been the price of the votes of wavering representatives of mining constituencies. The Goldfields' members deserve as little credit as the Treasurer in repect to this particular part of the scheme." Evidently they like himself, that this special allocation for Goldfield purposes would be a suitable ' bone or sop.' "With this view of currying favour with the mining community, he made the original proposition—with the same view, they insisted on an increase of fifty per cent. on the amount. Both parties appear to have had a supreme contempt for the question as to how far either sum would go in doing anything effectual towards promoting mining industry. That it was a vote for Goldfields' purposes seems to have been enough for them. Not a voice was raised in the House to enquire whether water supply was really the one thing needed by the miners of the Colony which Government might undertake to provide. Equally little thonght appears to have been given to the question whether justice could be done with £300,000, even to those Goldfields, on which a water supply is of essential importance.