THE TRUNK RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4807, 10 November 1902, Page 4

THE TRUNK RAILWAY.

Not only the two populous termini of the North Island trunk railway, but also the numerous towns and settlements along its route, have a - lively interest in the rapid construction of this great national work. For years, too many to dwell upon with complacency, “hope deferred” has boon the dominant note with regard to this railway; and even now, when fruition is in sight, there is in some quarters. a disposition to distrust Ministers and a feeling that the delays that have .proved so exasperating in tho jiast are not yet done with. From many platforms, politicians swayed by pessimism, or more probably by party spirit,are announcing fresh difficulties in the way of the completion of the . line, and are asserting that the quarter of a million sterling voted by Parliament this year will not he expended, but that the old policy of half-hearted prosecution will ho pursued by the Public Works Department. Not content with publishing doleful prognostications on the subject, some partisans have descended to downright ■'misrepresentation of facts, in order t 5 strengthen their statements that Ministers are playing fast and loose with the public of the North Island. In Auckland, it seems, it was reported that the Premier had said, in tho course of his Mangawoka speech a week ago, that it was doubtful if the £250,000 voted for the trunk railway would be expended. Now, this is a pure invention, for throughout his remarks Mr Seddon was emphatic in his declaration that the money would be spent and the work prosecuted with all possible vigour. Mr, Napier telegraphed from Auckland to the Premier on the strength of the lying report, urging that the faith of the Government was pledged to spend the whole of tho vote. Mr Seddon’s reply, as published in the “New Zealand Herald” of Thursday last, was as follows: ’

"I have never stated at Mangaweka, or elsewhere, that it was doubtful if the £250,000 .voted for the North Island trunk railway would be expended. Quite tho contrary. , What I said was that 600 additional men would be put On the work, and instructions have already been given to the departmental officers to prepare details and get ready for the employment of the additional number referred to. You have my autjiorits for stating that good faith will he kept. At election times you must not take all for gospel, either with respect to what yon hear or read.—R. j. Seadon.”

Surely this is decided and definite enough to confound those who malign the Ministry and to reassure the many people who are desirous of seeing the early completion of the trunk railway to connect Auckland with Wellington and open up many thousands of acres in

the interior of the North Island. The Premier stated at -f jigaweka that ho expected the line to be finished at the time stated by his colleague the Minister of Public Works; and his refutation of the electioneering slander, and his assurance that‘“faith will be kept,” ought to silence alike the pessimists and the “lying spirit” that speaks by the mouths of certain political prophets.