The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1888.
Jejuni and rxart to all mnn, Of whatcopver xrati 1 or persuasion, religious or political.
"When the Public Works Policy of 1870 was launched before the country, the jcrroatost nrgiuiienfc in favour of its adoption adduced by its promoters was, that it would create a steady stream of immigration from die Mother Country, which would
rapidly s.'ttle ;i birtjo population on tin; wnsh', luncl.s of the eolonv. Tho railways wen- to become the cbiof colonising medium of the interior, ami tho savage wilderness was to he transformed, as by a magic hand, into an Arcadia of smiling homesteads. An innumerable class of happy and contented settlers was to fill the land which would bring forth its increase ,and prosperity with plenty would for ever march hand in hand. People in the Old Country, groaning under the evils of an effete system handed down with the class prejudices of generations, struggling for existence, and hemmed in by excess of population, would Hy in thou-awls to the shores of New Zealand, where all their troubles would he at an end, and where they would find rest take the place of the weariness of life. In a groat measure the anticipations inclulged in hy tho architect of the great, scheme were realised. Large accessions to the population of all the provincial centres of the colony actually took place, and for a number of years, as the impetus given by the unaccustomed expenditure of a volume of inflowing foreign money continued, as well as the unusual activity of large contracts for works under construction, small rural towns and villages adjacent to the lines sprang into being and brought people into occupation of lands. Whilst the expansion given to trade existed with the influx of fresh population, and the prices of commodities ruled high with a corresponding heavy rate in wages received by the labouring classes, which gave them large spending powers, there was a degree of success amongst the people thus settled that had ail appearance of permanent stability.
There were, however, at the time Mr Yogcl's scheme, was first introduced into, and accepted by, the Legislature, far-seeing men like Stafford, Fitzherbert, and others, who warned the House that the policy was entirely Utopian in its pretensions, and would, after the lapse of a certain number of years, end in disaster totliecolony, and pauperise its people, These predictions have been verified, as, unhappily for us all, we see by the present state of the country from one end to the other. It is not that the fundamental principle of the policy of public works was a wrong one, but that the temptation to deal corruptly and wasteful ly with such immense sums of money was too strong for our public men. The character of Parliament was too weak and flexible to withstand the golden deluge, hence reckless administration, incapacity, and shameful abuse of oflice became the natural outcome to the scheme, the bitter fruits of which we are now tasting. The Public Works Policy of 1870, as it has been carried into effect by successive Governments, has not filled the country with a fixed class of useful and industrious agriculturists. When the Government assisted immigration a large proportion of the people they introduced was undesirable, and unfitted to enter upon the heroic work of colonisation. The railway.", as they were completed and opened for traffic, set free mini hers of men who were merged into the large seaport towns and created the " unemployed " difficulty. The railways destroyed previously slowly progressing but prosperous country townships, and drove their inhabitants into the cities. Country lands, temporarily placed under occupation during the heyday of the great expenditure and when the fever of earth hunger lasted, were subsequently denuded of settlers and shrunk back to their former state of sparsity. The direct result of flooding the country with borrowed millions may be summed up thus ; a few cities, like Auckland, Wellington, Lhmediu, and others of abnormal growth, who alono reaped the liarvest, as can bo testified by their large buildings, public and private, and over-flowing streets; the soil abandoned by cultivators ; country districts, with a diminished population unable to gain a profitable living ; pauperism an actuality on our social system, and growing in extent; a legacy of debt to foreign capitalists that is drawing the lifo blood of its people and driving them from our shores. The promised settlement of the country has not boon fulfilled, and that is the point of departure from the original plan to which the Legislature must return. Prosperity cannot he won back until the greatest of national industries, Agriculture, is stimulated and promoted in the most liberal manner that can be devised, and to do this the settlement of the country and waste lands of the Crown must be the first object that should occupy the serious consideration of Parliament.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2464, 26 April 1888, Page 2
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819The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1888. Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2464, 26 April 1888, Page 2
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