OTAGO RAILWAYS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14981, 29 April 1909, Page 6

OTAGO RAILWAYS.

However much the people of Otago may regret the suspension of work on | the Lawrencckßoxburgh Railway, they) must appreciate the admirable frankness with which Sir Joseph Ward has., confirmed the decision of the CabinetThe Prime Minister has never appeared to greater advantage than ho did when addressing the deputation which waited upon him in Dunedin yesterday to urge that the construction of this line should ho continued. Dunedin, as, he said, has been moro cursed with political promises for political purposes than has any other place in the dominion, and it has been encouraged to liook to the Government for a constant 'stream of publio money. It must have been an unpleasant task to - Sir Joseph to toll a deputation largely composed of his own political friends that he could not grant their request for further favours, but he performed it with characteristic tact and in a way that left no shadow of doußt about, his meaning. The Lawrence-Roxhurgji Railway is not to he continued, "unless the poople who, speak so confidently of its prospects will take upon themselves the responsibility of providing, interest on its cost, and tho position of tho Otago Central line is to be seriously considered. At present thi&Jine, which has cost £1,280,000, is paying only 6s per cent on this huge sum, and the revenue is showing no tendency to improve. Sir Joseph thinks that the LawrenceRoxburgh''line, which is estimated to cost between £300,000 and £400,000, would do no better, and he realises that it would be' grossly unfair to set' tho other railways in the country to make up a deficiency of some £50,000 upon these lines. The one thing that would change the whole outlook of the. Otago railways would be the successful inauguration of a complete system of irrigation along their routes, but, unfortunately, the experts' reports do not justify -the expenditure, of a large sum of money upon Mr Seddon's great scheme, and probably tho work will be deferred for many years to come. But Otago is hot without hope. 'lt has an enormous area of excellent agricultural and pastoral land still waiting closer settlement, and with its faculty for producing sturdy men and women of the best type it must always hold a prominent place among the provinces of the dominion.