THE RIVAL ROUTES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11044, 13 October 1898, Page 2

THE RIVAL ROUTES.

fr perMsteney Id pure selfishness oan ever be considered bd admirable trait, then the Auckland people are to be ODtnmended for tbelr energy bdiJ determination Id advocating (be construction of tbe North Island frank railway by Ibe Stratford route. Tbelr plan li to agitate, Bgltats, agitate, until they obtain some oonoeißlon. And tbe agitation will be of me. Even supposing It U not sneoeasfnl In Its objrot, It will draw attention to the faot that Bbamefal negllgenoß bai been ebown In proceeding with tbe connection of tbe northern and tbe southern dlstrlota by a direct Hoe of oomniunloa tloD, whlob will also open up bd immense extent of now unsettled country. A loan seonred and devoted to the Booom> pllahmeni of this purpoag would not materially Increase the taxation of the oolony, and would be far preferable to pettifogging loans Incurred chiefly for tbe prosecution of unproductive works, Tbete Is no doubt things are shaping to the end that farther demand! will be made on the London market for John Bull'i oesh in order to complete those great works neootsary to thoroughly develope the resources of the colony. Tbe Midland Railway, the Otago Central, and tbe North Island Trunk Railway would, if completed, be far bettor paying oonoerm comparatively than the present unfinished portions. A loan projeoted for such a purpose would receive the sanotlon of the Houae, as the mojorlty of the member*' dlttrlots would be Interested There la nob the slightest doubt a wise borrowing policy would be more economical than tbe Indefinite postponement of Buoh works, absolutely necessary for the farther expansion of the oolony'i resources and the opening np of traots now lying idle, but capable with assured methods of comma* nloatlon of supporting a large population. In advocating the adoption of the Stratford route the Anokland people ate frankly selfiih. They want to secure the trade of Taranakl for themselves, Instead of moit of it going to Wellington, as at present. It is no doubt true that between Stratford and Naw Plymouth the country is better than between Stratford and north of Moswhango. A very considerable extent of pumice country would havt to be traversed on the latter route, As against that the line would be shorter and much less costly. Viewed apart from loot considerations the oentral route would be most benefiolal to the oolony as a whole. A line from Stratford to Mew Plymouth would mean a purely west coast line, while the oentral route would serve the whole island, being joined to oonneotlog lines from Wellington, Wanganul, and Napier. At its southern end (t would also open up a large area of fine country, and a splendid forost— muoh of It totara, larger than we have seen In the Seventy Mile Bath. Tbe central loate woald also aerve the tonrlit traffio ißtter, From a colonial point of view the central route 1b In every way the beat. The Wangannl Chronicle, while admitting that looal lnteretts would be best served by the adoption of tbe Stratlord route, •onfesses that higher considerations demand the adoption of tbe oentral line. The Taranakl Budget is equally frank, find ntges all partleß to agree In urging ou the oonstrnotlon ot the line, and to wait until the colony is In a position to oonsrrnot branoh lines, . This Is tbe right oourse to adopt. By their agitation the Auckland people are merely delayiog indefinitely the oonsirnoilon of the Hoe. We oan imagine the Premier obuokllog at tbelr foolishness, By delaying large worki sdob as this, under the pretenoa I that tbe best ronta has not been decided upon, he oan raise loans to fritter an ay In , Westland, and to buy looal support in other parts of tha colony, whereas If the money neoettary for the completion of the trunk lines were ralsßd Parliament would refute loans for looal works. That 1b why the Cabinet is apparently divided on the question of the routo of the northern trunk line, and agitation for a change of route simply plays into their hands,