SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11367, 9 May 1900, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

THE APPROACHING SESSION OF PARLIAMENT.

PROSPECTS OF THE TRUNK RAILWAY.

[ Is view of the statement made the other day by the Premier that he will soon announce a record surplus for the colony a Herald re- ■ porter waited yesterday on Mr. W. J, Napier, with the object of ascertaining from the senior member for the City, how far he thinks the Auckland district will likely benefit in the way of public works, and particularly in the construction of the North Island Trunk railway, from this large surplus. Mr. Napier readily consented to give his views on the question. He said, "I intend all going well, to make railway connection between Auckland and Wellington, so far as I can, the principal object of my first efforts in larliament, and I am quite satisfied that the whole of the Auckland members will form a compact and solid party for the prosecuwon of that object, which wo all regard as above any question of mere party or.sentimental politics. I am convinced that the railway can be constructed without goinjr in for anv large borrowing policy. The first thing I intend to do is to find out the exact area and value of the land which has been purchased with the ear-marked North Island Trunk railway loan, because there is no doubt that legally and equitably that land belongs to the railway fund. The fact that it hai been changed from money into land docs not remove the trust that appertains to it. It is a. well-known principle in Courts of Equity, that if you change the form of a trust fund and make it into property the trust is not thereby destroyed. Now, that money was borrowed and set aside in trust account foi tho North Island Trunk railway, but from motives which the statesmen of that time thought good and sufficient (that it was inexpedient to construct the railway through Maori territory, and thereby enhance the value of Maori lands then in the hands of the natives), lands were purchased with the money instead of railway construction being entered upon. These lands have now increased in value, and I contend that the rents and profits should be applied to paying interest on such sum as may be necessary to complete tho construction of the line."

" In view of the large surplus, would the time not be opportune for recovering money taken from the car-marked loan and used for other purposes ?"

"A portion of tho money was used for snagging the Wanganui River. That amount should be refunded from the Consolidated Revenue to the railway account, as snagging the Wanganui River, though a desirable public work, cannot be said to be a correct appropriation of money allocated for the specific purpose of railway construction. In short, whatever sums were frittered away out of the railway loan for general colonial purposes, should be repaid to the railway fund, especially as the country is now so prosperous and the surplus so larcc. If this he done —and there is no doubt that in the case of a private trustee, a court of law would compel it to be donethen there will be sufficient money to construct the railway line without any tresli borrowing. I regard this connection between the present terminal points of the Trunk line as vital for Auckland City and the province general!v. At present, both commercially and politically, we Aucklanders are almost looked upon as if we were in one of the South Sea islands, owing to the fact that we are isolated except bv sea. Thousands of travellers leave New Zealand in the course of a year, without ever seeing Auckland and its many beauties, owing to the fact that there is no through connection from Wellington, at which most of the passenger traffic from beyond the seas is centred."

" What course do you think should be pursued in order that" we may have railway connection with Wellington as early as possible?"

"The policy of ' Stratford-or-nothing,' as it has been termed, is in my judgment a mistaken policy. If we are to have railway connection, it must be first bv the lawfully authorised route, and it would be hopeless and a waste of energy to commence an agitation for the repeal of the law which sanctions the Central route as the Trunk route. But this does not mean that we ought to stop agitating for the Stratford line. The Stratford line is a line of the greatest importance to Auckland. It will open up and develop a large area of splendid agricultural and pastoral land, and will, no doubt, considerably promote the prosperity of Auckland. The Wellington people are not averse to a line being made from Auckland to Stratford; on the contrary, several Wellington members have promised to help in an agitation for the construction of that line, but they refuse to regard seriously the allegation that the route via Stratford can ever be a Trunk route. Not only the extra distance, but the enormous cost of altering the grades and curves between Stratford and Wanganui, have caused the whole weight of both expert opinion and Southern political opinion to be against the Stratford route as a Trunk route. Therefore, it. is no nse kicking against the pricks. We can-"- 1 have the Stratford route under the ex ng law, but we may have it in conjun< on with the Central route. If we could therefore, as I believe to be possible, make an alliance with the Wellington members to push on the Central route as speedily as possible, conditionally on getting their help to connect Stratford with the Auckland railway system, I believe we would have through connection with Wellington within, say, four years. As the matter has been delayed so long, once we have determined upon the proper ways and means to complete the line, we ought not to dawdle, but should let big contracts, so that the work can be pushed on at both ends; and also, if possible, in the middle. The timber of the Waimarino forest should also be devoted to paving the cost of constructing the line. Thus the colony generally would not feel the slightest burden if a proper plan be formulated for financing the railway. lam convinced that if owing to official difficulties the Government itself cannot undertake the construction of the work in the manner I have indicated, then it would be possible, by legislation, to create a North Island Railway Beard, composed of, say, the Mayors of Auckland and Wellington, the Commissioners of Crown Lands, and other officials. Let the.assets of the North Island railway fund be vested in this Board, let also the Waimarino forest be vested in them, and give them power to borrow money on those securities for the construction of the railway, and I am convinced it could be done without any trouble to the Government. T do not for one moment suppose that the Colonial Treasurer, or the Southern members, u.tend permanently to withhold repayment t> the North Island railway fund of the money diverted from it for general colonial purposes." "As to other public works. What do you consider most urgent?" " Coincidently with the construction of tho railway, the opening up of the Rohepotae, or Kin'" Country, should be vigorously prosecuted The recent balloting for farms in the area lately surveyed, shows the eagerness of the people to settle on this land, which has hitherto been regarded as a terra incognito. Roads will have to be constructed as feeders for the railway, and if this be done, there is no doubt a great agricultural and pastoral population can be settled in the interior of the province of Auckland, the whole of which must draw their supplies from this city."