The Hastings Standard Published Daily SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1897. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Hastings Standard, Issue 387, 31 July 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

SATURDAY, JULY WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that \ve can do.

Within the past few days two Ministers of the Crown on tour have given expression to their views on Light Line Railways, a subject that was made prominent by Mr Seddon immediately on his return from Australia. The two Ministers who have referred to the subject are the Hon. W. Hall-Jones and the Hon. A. J. Cad man. Now it will be remembered that the Minister for Public Works in his peregrinations in Taranaki rather led the gcod people there to believe that the Government were favorable to this new scheme of railway, and even led them to believe that a light line woull be of great use to them in opening up their back country, and eventually be the means of placing them in communication with Auckland. Of course he at the same time let them understand that money would be required to give effect to the scheme, and the money would have to be obtained from John Bull in London. The Hon. Hall-Jones by the manner and matter of his speech indicated, we think, very clearly that a borrowing policy is in contemplation by the Government, and we have no hesitation in saying that the colony will have to borrow early next year whatever Government is in power. Now the Hon. the Minister of Railways gives it as his private opinion as a member of the community that the proposal for light railways could not be entertained. How can the Minister of Railways speak on a railway matter to a deputation in his private capacity as a citizen? Either the Government have given the matter consideration or they have not, Mr Hall-Jones implies they have done so, Mr C'adman implies the contrary. What does it mean? Is the Cabinet at variance on the matter ? It would seem so, and it seems also that the attitude taken up by Mr Cadman is the right one. The difficulties he points out, cannot be heaved aside, but above all there is abundant truth in his assertion that there can be no railway building without borrowing. We prefer the seriousness of Mr Cadman to the flippancy of Mr Hall-Jones, and we have more respect for the utterances of the Minister of Railways than for those of the Minister for Public Works. Mr Hall-Jones may be described as a " puppet at large " jumping to the various movetiStents of the wire-pullers, while Mr Cadman appreciate the seriousness of his i

responsibilities, has a fairly good idea of the costs of railway construction, and above all he is honest enough to speak his convictions, however hurtful they may be. It conies to this then, that in the borrowing policy light-line railways will not be included unless Mr Cadman, "comes to heel" at the crack of the Premier's whip or retires from the Cabinet. The divergent opinions of two Ministers is perhaps a small matter, but it shows the trend of politics. There is a feeling wholly inexplicable, and in which we have 110 share, that a political burst-up will be witnessed very early in the approaching session. The opposite views expressed by the two Ministers lends color to this.