New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4166, 28 July 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1874.

The statement made by the Minister for Public Works of the proceedings of his department can only bo considered second in importance to that of the Colonial Treasurer. By one the country is informed of its financial position, from which may he deduced the salutary influence of Mr. Vogel’s policy in the past and its prospects in the future. By the other, such minute details of administration are displayed as enables a sound judgment to bo formed of the amount of administrative skill possessed by the Government. The long debate on Mr. Stafford’s resolutions in 1872, resulting in the temporary removal from office of the parent of tho Public Works Policy, had this salutary effect, if no other, that it rendered further discussion impossible on the scheme for the regeneration of the Colony, for, in fact, enabling the great work of colonisation to bo once more resumed and prosecuted on a scale far beyond all previous attempts. Even at that time no one was so daring as to challenge tho principles on which the affairs of tho Colony were being conducted. The lapse of two years from the first announcement of the policy, with all their unavoidable delays, possibly with some shortcomings, had furnished time for the mind of the people to be educated, and he who might have attempted to do more than criticise the ability displayed by Ministers, would have had no chance of securing followers, and would have been deemed by tho country a traitor to its interests. In the re-constructed Government, which assumed office on the speedy defeat of Mr. Stafford, it was difficult to fill the post of Minister for Public Works, on whose success tho permanence of the Ministry must mainly depend. The loss of so singularly able an administrator as Mr. Ormond was by many deplored, as leaving a fatal gap in the Ministerial ranks, and when Mr. Richardson was announced as his successor, personal regard alone reconciled most members to tho change. It has always been considered one of the greatest gifts possessed by leaders of the people, to judge wisely of the character and capacity of those they associate with themselves, and never was this faculty displayed more to the public advantage than when Mr. Vogel invited the present Public Works Minister to join him. Having but for a short time possessed a seat in Parliament, with no inclination to oratorical display, even if ho had been gifted with all the essential qualities, the choice of Mr. Richardson was proof that Mr. Vogel was prepared to base the continuance of his Ministryon what had been previously challenged, the skilful management of public affairs. It is needless to dwell on the rapid rise to entire confidence in tho guidance of his department that Mr. Richardson has obtained, it is better to say a few words on his Statement of last Friday, the first, it should be remembered, after he has been at the head for the entire year with which ho has had to deal. Proceeding in his quiet manner to relate in detail the numerous works in progress throughout the Colony, in a way to convince every listener that he did not entirely rely on the reports of his officers, but had close personal knowledge, Mr. Richardson did not feel it necessary to make any elaborate defence for the nonfulfilment of too sanguine hopes. Master of his work, he was satisfied to simply state the obstacles he had to encounter, without attempting to impute blame to others. One important fact was plainly brought out that affords an ample ref utation of the charges so frequently made against the Government of having placed sums in the railway schedule without any reliable data, in short, of having entrapped Parliament into sanctioning the commencement of works with no knowledge of what it would require to complete them. Allowing for the rise in iron, which could not be foreseen, the average cost of the various lines will differ little from the votes already taken. When it is remembered how largely the estimates of tho first English engineers frequently, it may be said commonly fall below tho ultimate cost, tho Government is fairly entitled to claim credit for unusual care in the propositions already made, to Parliament, a care that will not fail to bo appreciated in the future. Making at present but few demands for fresh votes, and those almost entirely to complete works in progress, offence is given to some parts of tho Colony. To those determined to be discontented, it is useless to show what distinct pledges are given to fill all the gaps and establish in due time a system of trunk railways in each island. Neither would it avail much to point out to such persons the necessity for completing all works now in progress before others are undertaken, and that, to the amount of close upon two millions, lines are notyet contracted for. The cry is, put our works in the schedule and take an appropriation, without heeding that, whatever ihay be in the new Railways Bill, no Ministry could, or would, commence any fresh railway till after next session. This clamor may well be disregarded, for the complaints can only be made to delude certain constituencies into the belief of an earnestness which is in some cases more than doubtful. The Ministry does well to stay its hand. Monetary affairs in Europe are in such a condition as to render any course calculated to excite alarm utterly destructive to a country requiring large loans. To add millions to present appropriations, would bo a short and easy method by which to prevent the millions already voted from being obtained. With a labor market already strained to the utmost, it would bo suicidal to push on fresh undertakings, -which must prevent private enterprise from advancing tho settlement of tho Colony. From every Province, oven now, the demand for more labor to bring land into cultivation is heard, and it may well bo doubted whether the competition of the State is not pressing too much on our available strength. Prudence has so fully marked every project already undertaken, that, as its result, the time when some return can be expected for our great outlay, is seen to bo near at band. Spite of tho predictions indulged in by men like Sir David Monro, railway plant is arriving as fast as it can bo used, and that without formation slackening at any point. Actually one of the chief troubles tho department has encountered, is tho difficulty of obtaining sleepers and other timber required, a significant commentary on the assertions

about inexhaustible forests —an argument in favor of taking proper care of those we possess. Those who were loudest in condemning the Ministry for engaging the credit of the Oolony to an excessive amount, should now step forward to commend their caution, and admit the haste of their own censures. That they will do so, we believe as little as that they were aforetime actuated by any other motive, than the desire to usurp the conduct of a policy, they had neither the skill to devise nor the ability to exercise.