"TO BORROW, OR NOT TO BORROW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10035, 28 April 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

"TO BORROW, OR NOT TO BORROW.

TO TIIE EDITOR.

Sir, —The question oE borrowing to completa tho main railway linei and opening up the country, which is beiug discussed in your columns, is ono of tha deepest importance to this colony at thg present Uago of its history ; and, moreover, it is a question which is uot to be set asido by the spurious noliou of false pride that this colony has been lifting its head abova its fellows by a so-called policy of nonborrowiug. It is not tho borrowing that has dono harm in the past, bat the mis-spending and misappropriation of tho monoy borrowed. But surely there is now somo possible meano, with our greatly extended franchise and our working men's friends in Parliament, whereby a. loau now acquired for the above-mentioned public aud necessary works could bo kept to its purpose. It is surely not past tho wit of our legislators or legal advisers to deviso a way whereby the money spent would be strictly and solely tied to and spent on the purposo for wbich it was borrovyed.

Let anyone reflect what would now most probably bo the state of this country had not the Hrst great public works policy been adopted ? Imagine this colony still without a railway, or without all tho settlement that has taken place in tUoco parts of the land that have been blessed with railway conveniences. A coach and four still doing the through journey to the Bluff, or Q&inaru, or Chmtchureh; and the 10-horse waggon, or boltack team the only means of conveyance from the Bluff to Blenheim, or around Wellington or Auckland. Deny it who will, tho railroads of the past 20 years have niado what progress and settlement there is in this country j and it was done witb borrowed money. It is too true, as we kuow to our cost, that a lot of tha big loans were not profitably looked after, aud that they might have bsen made to go much farther and caused a great deal moro settlement and prosperity had they been more judiciously looked after. But even, with all the extravagauco they havo changed tho face of this country from a wilderness to a fruitful and populated land. The more people we have settled tho better for all and tho lighter the taxes—i.e., provided you can give them the opportunity to settle and mske a liviug. Now, tho only thing that will do that for many years to come is the opening ua of the land for settlement and giving access to it when taken up. This matter was well put the other day by a settler at a public msfitiug in a town iv Central Otugo when ha said, " When a block of land is thrown open, tho lint thing dyne by the Government is to make roads to it, and the construction of the railway is only this principle extended. What is the ufs of tho Government throwing open laud, both here and in the North Island,'for settlement and then telling the people they have no money to give access to it. To open land all over the colony and then givo no access to it ia merely to aggravate and court depression." It is a growing conviction amongst thinking men that somethk'g mere is necdod for the advancement of settlement in this country than the mere opening up of the land. Aud that something is communication—railways, iv short. Tho fact is, tho great work that would cause this country to mako much more rapid progress than it has ever done in the past 20 | yesiis is to complete the maiu lines leading to settlement. That work is staring our statesmen iv tho face. Will they put their hands to it J with courage, with honesty, and carry it out ! honourably ? That is the question of the hour. Cm our Government be trusted to do this work, or can we find men that will do it P A loan got and honestly expended in these definite works would cause such a change and such an accession of settlement and prosperity that New Zealand would require no more loans for years to cotno, if perhaps ever again.— I am, &c,

April 25.

FoEWAIiD, ZEALANDIA !