THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1892, Page 2

THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

(To the Editor of the "Evening Post," Wellington, per favour of Auckland Evening Star.)

Sir,—My attention has been drawn to an article in your paper of the 22nd ulfc., on the above subject. You would have your readers believe that the figures set down in tho circular issued by the Northern Railways League are incorrect, but on inquiry I find that the items aro merely.extractod from the Public Works Statement, and I am informed verified by the Public Works Department. If you doubt this, you can easily convince yourself by personal application to that department. In my opinion tho million loan has been illegally appropriated, and faith broken with the British lender. If you will kindly read ab puge 17 of the last P.W. Statement the paragraph " Roads to give access to North Island Main Trunk Railway," you will find that at tho 31st March last there was no less than tho sum of £58,155 spent on roads in tho provincial district of Wellington, and only £3,806 spent in Auckland, or liabilities to those amounts.

It has been *aid that " speech is given to hide one's thoughts," and it might be added that ''figures aro given to mako confusion worse confounded," for of all the confoundingstatements ever made, I think the Public Works and Financial Statements, mado by the several Governments which have been in power, take the cake, and I don't believe half a dozeu men in our House of Representatives understand it. Just as well pub ib in Greek or Maori so far as bhey are concerned, for only experts, after great labour, can make head or tail of it, and 1 think wo nremuch indebted to the Railways League for tho cloar manner in wlsicli they have unravelled the intricacies of the expenditure of tho million loan. While on this subject would it not bo well for you and all other journalists in New Zealand to insist that all Financial Statements laid beforo a Parliament should be in such a form that persons of ordinary intelligence could understand what they are reading ? Auckland is waking up to the fact- that their interests have beon most sadly neglected, or betrayed by its representatives, either through incapacity or neglect (most likely the former), and they will have to look out in the future moro ways than one. —I am, etc., E. Glanville,