The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2625, 9 May 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

T HURSDAY, MAY 9, 1889.

Kiinal anil evict instil; to .iil mi'ii. Of wli.-it.-.n-v.Tstiituor persuasion, rcliginus or polilUMl.

Wiikn Mr MUchr-lson, Minister for I'ulilit; "Works, made a toui , of llic Thames dislriul l;ist week, deputations waiu.'d upon him from (iriiluinislowii to To Aroha and pressed him to proceed without delay with thu coinpli-tiou of the local railway. This line was sanctioned liy Parliament and begun during the Urcy administration ten years a<;o ; it was a gift, an unblushing award o£ public money, to the Thames constituency for its strong Greyitc partisanship. The lino never approached completion, except a small portion at one end, where sleepers and permanent way were laid. But nothing beyond that has ever been effected, and although largo sums of loan money, upon which the colony is now paying interest, were squandered upon the works as far as they went, the line was never put into working order and has never carried a locomotive, carriage or truck. Several miles of formation, and a largo quantity of valuable material have been allowed to fall into decay and ruin. All will require to lie re-built and re-plaeed, at almost the original cost, should the railway be proceeded with in earnest. The history of the, Thames railway, from its inception, has been a disgrace to the colony, and it now lies a miserable monument of that political depravity from which we are happily shaking ourselves free. The representations of those who urged the construction of the line upon him were, of course, met by Mr Mitchelson with the usual fair promises, conveying the cheering impression that the work would be again taken in hand. The financial aspect of the matter was touched upon as lightly as though the colony was rich in funds wherewith to enter upon new works of large dimensions. There is no such thing as economy where self-interest is concerned, and the debt may go on swelling and fresh loans be contracted, so long as the, clamours of persistent localities are satisfied by the expenditure of public money. It remains to be, explained hew the Thames railway can bo resumed without incurring fresh burdens, and without setting at defiance the fixed determination of the people at large to abstain from further borrowing until we have relieved ourselves of the pressure of, taxation and reduced the general administration to more simple and less costly proportions. The task of reform and self-sacrilice has been entered upon with a noble and honourable spirit; but it is yet far from being accomplished. To encourage a departure from the righteous course entered upon by pandering to the immoral cries for the old leven of extravagance, and again to compromise the restored good name and confidence of New Zealand, would be an act of criminal treachery to the country deserving the severest condemnation. To do ho would revive all (lie evils of log-rolling and scrambles for railways in other parts of the colony. The press of the Thames district is unanimous in support of the railway, and call upon the Waikato people to be with them in the matter, as it would give the, latter two strings to their bow ; that is, it would open up another market for their cattle, coal and produce. It would, no doubt, be an excellent thing for the Thames, just now, to have the expenditure of a large sum of public money in tho district. It can be conceded that the benefit to the Waikato would be very great, and that tho amount of trailic in goods, mineral and passengers would be on thu scale estimated by the deputations to the Minister. Tho misfortune, however, is that the railway has so long been the victim of political party spirit and oliicial bungle, and that its resumption is demanded at a time when the colony is not'in a position to afford it, it must-, consequently, wy.it a while longer before its construct ion can be regarded with approval by tho taxpayers. When the colony is in a position to undertake further public works, the claims of the Thames-Te Aroha railway would entitle it to the fairest consideration to be placed on the schedule, which we would then willingly support. The Waikato is emphatic in its desire for retrenchment in all departments of the public service. This feeling is made more decisive by the example before us of the railway from Te Awamutu to Te Kuiti, which has been built at an enormous outlay, without careful premeditation. This line is now complete in every particular, but must be left unworked because there is no traflic upon it. Money has been lavishly spent on a work years in advance of its time, and has served only to enhance tho value of the lands of the natives.