THE RAILWAY VOTE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 272, 21 October 1912, Page 4

THE RAILWAY VOTE.

The Public Works Estimates placed before Parliament contained an item of £12.000 for the East Coast railway from Napier end. At first glance it i was thought by miiiy that this was an additional grant of £12,000 hr the coming .year’s construction—th-.t is towards the Government share of the Westshore bridge and embankment work. This, however, is not the case ; the £l2,(io<) required to be voted is evidently for the work already completed. The position briefly stated is ns follows: The amount voted in 1 $) 11 for the smith end of the Napier-Gisborne line was £20.000. and the sum expended up to the end c.f the financial year (31 it March, 1012) was £2f)i. The liability on the 31st March was £llB. and to provide for this and the work which has since been in hand, the sum of £12.000 is placed on the estimates for the coming year. As the authorities to expend moneys, provided for irt the estimates, cease at the end of each financial year, and as the cost of the work done on the Napier-Petane section of the line since the 31st March last amount to something under £12,000, it is obvious that nothing is provided in this year’s estimates for carrying on the work. As we go to press the Napier Chamber of Commerce is discussing the course followed by Government, anil for the sake of the community we hope that a reasonable attitude will, be adopted. There can be no question of the fact that Hawke’s Bay desires to see the railway pushed On ; there can be no doubt, also, that the people of this province realise that the connecting link with the Napier-Wellington section is the most important in the chain bet ween Wellington and Gisborne, and without its completion the railway construction beyond must be a farce, but at the same time it is well t<; try and get in touch with the true position. The Minister of Public "Works has declared his intention to proceed with the work put in hand by the previous Government, but it is [quite plain that the new Minister is I not prepared to follow the wasteful | methods adopted by his predecessor. ! Can he be blamed for this ! We ; think net. In fact, his action should [be appreciated. But there is a [difference in stopping wasteful expenditure and stepping expenditure altogether. It is not difficult tn understand that Government is short of money, but the explanation ci the shortage', the account made out between trie people of New Zealand and "I’ncle” in London should be [square. It appears plain tncugh [that until thi new Government can [get its policy in full operation, and [establish a modest opportunity <.f [counter-balancing the Ward cx[travagancc the country must be | pinched fo r money. So long as it is [made plain to the people cl Hawke s [ Bav that wi .are "coming into 'Vi' I own" in the end. it may lie safely [said that the electors here are quite [willing to help the Dominion t<: get I back to a state of financial sanity, i but we want to know that we [mine under the scope of a genera! ’.policy. So far as the East Coast I tailway is concerned it may be taken las a work of national importance. and as such should have preference ; mi the Estimates. Money should be [piovided for the bridge and roathvtn [ across the harbour and if the local I bodies do not agree it need nut be

spent , and the countn will be nom the worse off. But there need be m fear that an agreement will not b< reached. There are only ordinary preliminary difficulties in the way and these can easilv be removed. As the Hon. W. Fraser camx.it visit here before the close of the sessioi it would be well that the whole posi tion should lie placed before him by those who are capable of pointing out how matters stand. If th< Chamber of Commerce takes actiot this afternoon we hope it will br moderate and thoughtful. Hawke’: Bay m -iixious that this railway should be pushed on, but it is wis< that the Minister should lie helpe< to follow out a policy of mitiona. economy.