The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, AUG. 25, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2516, 25 August 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, AUG. 25, 1888.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Tiikiik is no doubt the forbearance of tho people is being tried to the utmost with respout to the railway policy, and its system of management. The disastrous results which have followed tho prosecution of that policy from the initiation of the Public Works scheme lias reached an alarming stage, and is so palpably self-evident that none but the stubborn and perversely blind will deny the fact. Every effort has been made by the people

directly, and by the organs of public opinion, to alter the system which it, has been patent to all intelligent observers is utterly unsuitert to the colony and is seriously retarding its material progress. But these exertions have been futile ; neither Parliament nor Government appear to care a snap of the fingers for the country's wishes, either as regards railway reform or any other constitutional question. The Public Works .Statement delivered last week affords further evidence of the thraldom of Ministers to the dominant mind of Mr Maxwell, whose hand, with probably the Premier's also, is clearly discerned in the construction of the Statement. Mr Mitchelson was but the mouthpiece of officials of the department. Public feelings are completely ignored, and the policy so obnoxious to the colony is justified in the most ample manner, and throughout the Statement he labours to demonstrate by comparisons with the systems of other countrios, including America, that the New Zealand railways are a model of efficient management and economy. Nevertheless with all his poor sophistry, Mr Mitchelson cannot disguise the lamentable truth that our railways do not pay, and what is the conclusion he arrives at? It has at last dawned upon his obtuse mind that in order to make the railways pay it is necessary to increase the population. He has discovered, what was never a hidden mystery, that whilst lines have been pushed forward the settlement of the lands has not been encouraged in the sime ratio. Mr Mit-ihelson's knowledge on the economic aspect of the question and of the first principles of the science of colonisation is crude and contracted in the extreme. Whilst the Legislature, and we might add the colony, went into heroics on the inauguration of the era of millions and railway construction, it was laid down as a primary article in the newly adopted creed that the country would be rapidly opened up and settled by the contemplated railways. To put it mildly, this has barely been realised. The degeneracy of Parliament and party corruption, prostituted the original design and population and settlement were never stimulated by the enormous public expenditure of many years. Indeed the country districts have been to this day placed beyond the possibility of progress, have diminished in population, and are falling behind continually. After all this bitter experience to which successive Governments closed their eyes, Mr Mitchelson thinks we ought now to bring more population into the country ; to do what should have been done at the beginning of the scheme, and never ceased. Would even the foresight and enterprise of the United States have built up the most gigantic railway system in the world, intersecting their vast continent, without a continual mighty inflow of fresh population moving unceasingly onward to occupy the boundless tracts of waste lands in the Republic, creating with magic hand new centres and fresh markets where producers and consumers gathered together and settled down 1 The railway system of America has been the most powerful lever in the progress of the country, it is the reverse with New Zealand ; and there will never be any reform in our system so long as the present policy and form of government are suffered to continue. This year's exhibition of the Parliamentary farce or travesty has filled us with a full measure of contempt for the representative institutions of the colony as inimical to the safety and well-being of the people. Although the Minister for Public Works spoke so safely 011 the need for more population, he gave no indication of any proposals to secure that aim ; there was but a shadowy idea expressed without any substance. There is 110 desire on the part of the Government to popularise the railways and use them for purely colonising purposes. The people who are the real sufferers from the present fallacious system, and heartily detest it, would welcome any change; therefore they support Mr Yaile's proposals to lease the Waikato lines and urge them upon the Government. Parliament, however, sets its face against the popular wish, and the Government practically reject it by first demanding a heavy cash deposit from Mr Yaile and then declarin the offer has been made " too late" for discussion by the Legislature this session. In no way do the peeple's wishes receive attention, neither can it be impressed upon the minds of Assembly or Ministry that these agitations contain a deep meaning. Radical reforms are necessary in the whole administration and form of government, and we may depend upon it that they will be secured sooner or later.