The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, OCT. 11, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3167, 11 October 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, OCT. 11, 1892.

t'-qual and exact justice to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

The report of the North Island Main Trunk Railway Committee would make us blush wore it not that we. have lone; recognised the fact that Parliament is utterly unlit to have unchecked control over the expenditure of borrowed money on public works —railways in particular. The committee find that the decision arrived at by the committee of ISB4 was quite in accordance with the evidence submitted, but the facts which follow in the next paragraph convict the committee of having neglected to test the value of the evidence produced. The necessities of party required that Wellington members should be satisfied, and were only too willing to accept any evidence in that direction which offered. What does the last committee tell us : '-The cost of constructing a railway 21G miles in length from Marton to Te Awamutu was"estimated at £1,293,134." present estimate is £2,007,985, including the sum of £402,025 already expended. The bridges in 1884 were estimated by the witnesses to cost £30,000 ; the present estimate for the same work is £250,750—a difference in round numbers of £220,000. We have not the report of the 1884 committee before us, but most distinctly if the estimate was by skilled engineers there is only one conclusion to arrive at—they were got at by tliG W'-lliiigton party. On the other hand, if the evidence was that of amateurs, the committee was incapable either from mental weakness or unblushing dishonesty to perform the work entrusted to them. We are presuming, of course, that the estimate of the

present committee is within a few teii3 of thousands of being accurate. The agitation set on foo', by the commercial men of Auckland has borne fruit from whichever point of view it is considered. The Government is now in a position to resist pressure to continue work on either of the lines, which to our mind is exactly the course which should be pursued. It is manifest that the financial position will not admit of either line being completed for some years to come, and it is only after completion that either can by the most sanguine be expected to pay interest on cost and working expenses. We are not oblivious of the fact that direct profit is not the only consideration ; the occupation of the country by enterprising settlers being of still more importance. Experience has taught us that the grazier is pioneer, and that the agriculturist and dairy farmer follow him after the lapse of a number of years. A railway is not of any very vital importance to the grazier. If he has a decent track from his holding to a railway or navigable river his actual requirements are met. The quantity of stores he requires to draw from the cities is limited, and his stock can walk to market. Both the proposed lines will puss through country which is either not occupied at all, or the human race is only represented by Maoris scattered through the country. In addition, the greater portion of the land is still in the hands of the natives, and opinions vary very much as to the value of that land for settlement. When this land has passed into the hands of Europeans, a year or two will give a very good idea as to the route the railway should follow in order to junction with the lines already constructed. As we pointed out above, there is no prospect that funds will be available to complete the line for some years to come ; we can, therefore, well afford to wait for the development of settlement. There is no logical reason to spend the money we have in hand until our ground is made sure by experience. The secret of the agitation is that this sum is in hand, and each party to the contention as to route is alive to the fact that if they can only secure its being spent on the line they will have gained the day. The argument will be plausible if not sound, that as so much has been spent it would be absurd to allow that sum to be lost. We believe that the proper policy, both as regards the construction of the railway and the acquirement of native land, is to wait. As regards the first, till we are in a position to complete; and as to the second, till the natives awaken to the fact that it is better for them to sell or lease their land than to allow it to remain in a state of nature. To exhibit anxiety to acquire is to enhance the cost and defer the date of transfer.