The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1882.

Evening Star, Issue 6033, 13 July 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1882.

The Public Works Statement is very much what might have been expected to emanate from a Cabiuet which has proved itself, during its continuous existence since 1879, eminently practical and sensible in the most complete salification of the word. It is difficult to conceive a position of greater difficulty than that in which Ministers were placed when, having made up their minds in consideration of all the circumstances that the Colony would be justified in further borrowing, they had to dovieo a scheme of allocation within a reasonable limit of expenditure. They had before thorn the fact that to complete railway works alono which had been authorised by Parliament would require over £6,000,000; while hi common prudence they felt themselves unable to recommend tho increase of public debt, involving as this does a proportionate charge for interest and sinking fund by more than £1,000,000, year by year, during the life of the present Parliament. How to piece out the moneys available annually nnder such an arrangement waa a problem not easy of solution, and never could have been satisfactorily .solved unless somo distinct principle had lieen applied. This principle, consistently declared to be tho ruling ono of the Public Works policy, is that, in accordance with justice to tho eolonists as a whole, as well as with most plain expediency, the artorial system of railways as originally initiated should be completed. On examining the tablo of apportionment included in the Statement it will be found that this has been determined to a large extent by the position of linea in course of construction, and tho extreme desirability from a financial point of view, as well as in the interests of settlement, of either completing tho branch lines or of carrying them to a convenient terminus. To put tho thing plainly, the idea is to push forward extensions of tho main linea in tho North and South Islands, and to comploteall branch lines now in course of construction which arc likely to profe remunerative or especially useful. Tho Minister for Public tVorks asserts wiLh confidence that, if his proposals are adopted, the main Hues ill he , t ; i|- :i ,ivat '■••■•'. *!"' terminnti i . , ;, , . - y..n: ■■: ' A:; ■„•.: <:■ !■■'.•., i.';- .! '■. ',-nt,'lc'■;<>;. i; v J.j.,, ;;c.:, iVrHitl'.'O'ib '"' rOiLtiif./}-.' '.! ; .. \ [[[ I'': ■->. t, :■_. !l!l!< !) , I U i ll Oil i I , '. ii.U< '.

cavilling at tho scheme of apportionment. The ghoat of Proviucialiam will walk again for tho occasion, and there will be move than one loud claimant for tho "lion's share." Fortunately, as was remarked by the immortal Bombastes, when " another lion " gives a grievous roar," then " the first lion "thought the last a bore." The application is patent, and will, we fancy, bo found very much to the point. Except perhaps in the future Utopia under tho beneficent sway of Sir Gboroh Grey, everybody can hardly have everything in indefinite quantities. It will bo observed that of tho whole £3,000,000 proposed to be borrowed and expended during tho noxt three years, £1,350,000 is proposed to be allocated for purposes other than railway construction. In the eyes of certain people, who are unable to see much beyond their noses, this appropriation appears to bo not at all right or proper; and it is even, we notice, assumed that all er.ch expenditure as detailed in the Statement must needs bo unremuneratiye. This is a view, wo need hardly say, which shows very littlo consideration. Ihe purchoso of Native lands, for instance, to which £200,000 is allocated, is Bimply an investment, and, in tho hands of the present Native Minister, is likely to be a most excellent ono. Tho rather Bhady negotiations entered into by tho Gbby Government, which would have Involved more than a million of money, Mr Bbyob naa fortunately beeh ablo to terminate in a manlier satisfactory to the Colony f and this £200,000 Will enable all current transactions in Native lands to bo closed. In regard to immigration, thero surely cannot be two opinions as to tho immediately remunerative character of the outlay, and we can only regret that more money is not availablo for the purpose. £200,000 will, however, enable tho Government, within the three years over which tho expenditure is to bo spread, to bring out under the assisted passages system several thousands of persons nominated by relatives or friends, and we hope a flood supply of single women, who generally become a vanishing quantity within a few months after arrival—so lively la the matrimonial market. The opening up of land before pale is again an expenditure directly and largely remunerative, as has been already proved in many localities. To the purpose, therefore, of the systematic construction of pioneer roads, bridges, and drainage before placing lands in the market it is proposed to devote £200,000, and it would be difficult to conceive a better investmont of the money. In regard to the amount set aside for roads and bridges—in all £2oo,ooo—it is explained that a considerable number of very desirable works of this class authorised last year have not been commenced, whilst the localities interested look upon the grants as still available ; and thero are, moreover, works required to bo carried out upon such important arteries of communication as tho roads from Christchurch to Hokitika, Greymouth to Nelson, and roads north of Auckland a portion of tho Colony excluded from any further railway construction out of tho loan now proposed. It is indeed only equitable, as is set forth in the Statement, to mako specific allocation for tho roads, wharves, and bridges in that district. Tho goldfielda again are beyond question entitled to an appropriation from tho loan for works essential to their development. Whatever may be tho equities of tho case, there is no doubt as to the tact that tho gold-mining interest is specifically taxed, whilst in many mining districts tho means of communication are very primitive. Tho waterraces already constructed with public money also demand a certain expenditure for maintenance and extension, if thoy are to bo made remunerative and servo the intended purpose. In regard to these works, large expenditure up to tho present time advanced would bo practically thrown away unless they are carried out as designed. It would be a caso of spoiling tho ship for tho sake of a ha'porth of tar. Telegraph extension, to which £500,000 is allocated, can hardly be considered work for which the expenditure is unproductive. It may be expected directly as completed to pay interest on cost and working expensoa, but the indirect advantages to'tho community can hardly bo overestimated. £300,000 is proposed for public buildings. This, the Government allow, is the wealc part of the scheme of allocation ; but thero are largo outstanding liabilities, and it has further to be recollected that in many instances tho erection of buildings will save large amounts in the aggregate now being paid for rent. The Minister, however, indicates that the proposed appropriation is to 6e the last from loan for this purpose, and that In future provision will have to bo made from the Consolidated Fund. Sohool buildi ings, it may bo noted, form annually no inconsiderable portion of tho expenditure. It can hardly with truth be said that the proposed allocation of tho £8,000,000 is in any direction at variance with tho prinoiple j asserted by the Colonial Treasurer—namely, that tho moneys to be raised under the loan must, In tho interests of the Colony, bo expended on "necessary or directly ropro- '' dnctive works." There are many points of interest in the Publie Works Statement to which we shall take a future opportunity of 1 referring. In the present article we have only been able to comment generally on tho main features of the proposed loan expenditure.