New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1884.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 662, 31 October 1884, Page 12

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1884.

Ik view of the hostile attitude of the House towards the District Railways motion, both as originally put on the Order Paper and as afterwards modified, the Government has thought it wise to retreat yet further from the position taken up immediately on the rejection of the District Railways Leasing and Purchasing Bill by the Legislative Council. Wednesday afternoon the Colonial Treasurer was allowed to cut out a large portion of the motion and insert some other words ; and the debate was, we understand, to takeplace yesterday. In order that the public may see clearly what has been done in the way of amendment, we reprint the motion as it stood on the Order Paper Wednesday, enclosing in brackets the portion now cut away:— That the difficulties surrounding the railways constructed under the District Railways Act, and the hardships to which the ratepayers are subjected in connection therewith, are such that this House considers the Government should seize a favourable opportunity to enter into agreements to acquire the said lines bv lease and purchase, [the cost not to exceed the value ascertained by a Court of Inquiry, presided over by a Judge of the Supreme Court, based on the actual cost at which, at the time of construction, the railways could have been constructed, less the depreciation and deterioration since construction from a reduction in the market value of materials aud wear and tear, plus any amounts the companyowners of the said railways have been or may be authorised to levy on the ratepayers up to the 31st March last ; it being made a condition that all proceedings against ratepayers shall be stopped, and all amouats received from ratepayers be returned to them. The Government to have the option, up to one week after the next session of Parliament, to pay for the railways by 4 per cent, rent-purchase bonds, or by a payment of one-third in cash ; the balance to bear 4 per cent, interest, and to be paid in four equal annual instalments. The Government next session, in the event of such agreement, to introduce a Bill to make the ratepayers liable for one-half of any amount short of 4 per cent, which the railways yield after paying working expenses, plus the cost of raising the iates.]” The motion as it now stands consists of all the words not within the brackets, and of the following

“Such agreemeufc3 to be subject to the ratification of Parliament, and to contain a pro-

vision that until Parliament has had an opportunity of giving such ratification, all proceedings against ratepayers shall be stopped.” The amended motion authorises Government to enter into agreements with the railway companies, subject to ratification by Parliament. But agreements under the former motion would of necessity have been subject to the ratification of Parliament, and the Government would in their bargaining have been kept within certain limits defined in the motion. If the motion as it now stands be carried, the Government will have carte blanche as to the terms ol the agreements, and those who vote for it will scarcely be in a position to refuse ratification afterwards. Clearly that is the view taken by the Government, or it would not be- so anxious to proceed. If the Colonial Treasurer persist in his attempt to obtain a resolution of some sort, it should authorise nothing beyond further inquiry as to the value of the several properties, and the terms upon which the companies would be willing to surrender their interests. Anything beyond that preliminary step would be dangerous and unconstitutional. If those who objected to the motion in its original form, and to it as at first amended, assent to it as it stands at present, they will simply have allowed themselves to be hood-winked by the Colonial Treasurer. We hope to hear of an amendment being proposed in the direction we have indicated. It is a lact that further inquiry is,.wanted, and if at the beginning of next session full information be laid before Parliament —information which as yet has not been forthcoming—a District Railways Leasing and Purchasing Bill may be passed, but it will difler in several material points from that which the Legislative Council rejected. We cannot conclude without a passing word concerning the delicious effrontery with which the Colonial Treasurer, when asking leave to amend his motion, assumed that in its altered form it would be entirely free from objection, and would as a matter of course be accepted by the House. He may possibly find himself mistaken. He is even now seeking artfully to remove the effects of a series of blunders, and faith in his infallibility has been considerably shaken. But nevertheless it is hard to foresee what may be the course of action pursued by a Chamber which has until the last day or two shown a disposition to do the bidding of Sir Julius Vogel without a murmur, to beslaver him with fulsome compliment, to accept him an authority with regard to all things under the sun, to thank him humbly for favours received, to pray to him for more, and generally to look upon him as a sort of benign providence which in a fortunate hour for the colony has been wafted to its shores.