The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1889

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2671, 24 August 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1889

Toe House has rejected the Otago Central Bill. This is a seveie blow to the Government, for it was a Ministerial measure! in which the Government placed very great importance, and had proposed to complete the line out of the trust funds of the colony secured by the pastoral rents from lands adjacent to the railway. The morality of the Eill was utterly bad ; it created an opening for a new system of borrowing, and thereby, perpetuating political jobbery and unpioductive works. The Bill was devised to secure the block Otago vote. As a counterpoise to the Otago Central,

iind in order to propitiate the Auckland members, the Government proposed to construct a tramway to the Puliipuhi JJusli, from AVhang-irei. The effect of this latter scheme lias Wnen very perceptible in the altered views and attitude this session of such members as Messrs llobbs and K. Thompson. The Premier used his strongest arguments, iu tones bordering on trucult'.nee, to avert the fate of the JJill ; but the House refused to be led by him. It is curious to note that the numbers in the division lists indicate that barely two-thirds of the Mouse were present, from which we may gather that there are a host of weak-kneed members without the counige of their opinions. It is certainly a matter for congratulation that the Bill has been thrown out. The country lias demanded a cessation of further heavy expenditure in the prosecution of political railways, and that there be an end to borrowin*', whether direct from the London market or indirectly and improperly from the funds entrusted to the safe keeping of the State. The defeat of the Otago Central Bill, however, is duo not to the honest disposition of the House, to respect the country's wishes, or to the influence of pure principles. Good has come out of evil. It is owing to fortuitous circumstances that the colony has been saved, for a time, at least, from the infliction of this piece of corrupt jobbery. In throwing out the Bill members who opposed it were studying their own interests, not the country's. There was a scramble for local expenditure, and the continuation of other liui-s ; the passionate love of extravagance was shown to be still unextinguisliccl. The House passed the amendment of Mr Smith, member for Waipawa, to the ell'ect, " that the Bill be postponed till the Government have an opportunity of including in it other unfinished lines," and he, at the same time, urged the construction of the Woodville line. This amendment settled the Otago Central liaihvay for this session, and inadvertently the House has rendered the best service to the colony since it met together two months ago.