Mr Hallenstein on the East and West

Otago Witness, Issue 1787, 20 February 1886, Page 10

Mr Hallenstein on the East and West

Coast Railway.

The visit of Mr B. Hallenstein to Christchurch has been taken advantage of by the Railway League to elicit more fully his views regarding the East and West Coast railway. Mr Adams, the President of the League, wished Mr Hallenatein to state the grounds of objection to the line by the people of Otago ; and if a visit from some of the members of the League would be likely to have any effect in removing these objections. Mr Hallenstein was not very clear that a visit would do nnjch good, but thought the proposed publication of a pamphlet giving information would be of some advantage. In acknowledging a vote of thanks passed by the League, Mr Hallenstein said: — Were I of opinion that the East and West Coast railway wou'd only benefit this district, at the expense of th« rest of the Colony, I would hardly have had the courage to stand up in the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to oppose the opinion of 40 prominent citizens. No one more than I deprecates the scramble from every district and every town to have money spent, or rather mis-spent| simply for the reason that the spending of it •will do a temporary good. For years I represented a large Otago district in the Provincial Council. I ever declined advocating any works for my district simply for the benefit of having some money spent there, and were I now of opinion that the benefit of the East and West Coast railway would be only in the expenditure of the money I should, to say the least, not be shortsighted enough to favour its construction ; but I can advocate it with all my heart, for I believe no new work that we can undertake will further the advancement of New Zealand more than a railway that shall pierce the mountains and traverse the valleys of the rich provinces of Canterbury, Nelson, and Westland, making them richer still, by amalgamating their various resources. No clear-headed statesman who looks at the maps of New Zealand, and who at the same time makes himself acquainted with the distinctive capabilities of each district — I will instance only the wheat of Canterbury, the hops and fruit of Nelson, the gold, the coal, and the timber of the West Coast — I say no clear-headed man who studies these things can doubt that the modern road which shall connect these now isolated districts within a few hours of each other is a Colonial work — a work that ought not to be delayed, as it will increase our population and lessen our taxes. Gentlemen of the League, I can only wish you God speed in the work you have undertaken. It is not for me to direct you how to achieve that object. I believe it was Napoleon the Great who said, "Man can do anything he wills." If you feel that this work ought to be undertaken, you need only to say it shall be undertaken, and it will be done ; but you must act in earnest, you must persevere, and you must leave no stone untouched that may be in your path. I do not mean to imply that you should counsel your members of Parliament to.coerce their opponents or the Government by any unfair tactics. I must confess I did not approve of the action of the members in favour of the East and West Coast railway, when they assisted Captain Russell in a resolution the effect of which has teen a blow to other parts of New Zealand ; but I can find every excuse for them, for they were smarting under a most shameful act of injustice dealt to Canterbury and the other provinces interested, by refusing them the committee of investigation into the merits of the East and West Coast railway. However, the East and West Coast railway can stand on its own merits ; and while the district* immediately interested should send to Parliament men pledged to support only such a Government as will endeavour to carry it out", no coercive means should be used to attain that object. Men such as the members of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce have got despondent, and attribute the somewhat low state of affairs to the borrowing and Public Works policy, ignoring that the true cause is principally the uprecedented low price of all our natural products and the want of a population here to consume these products tau far greater extent than we are now which will only be remedied by immigration and by the employment of our people in the manufacture of all such gooda for which nature has specially fitted us, It seems somewhat inconsistent that those who cry out against sending money Home for in* terest (I now particularly refer to the majority of the members of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce) are the greatest opponents to keep* ing the money here in the manufacture of our local products. Perhaps, gentlemen, you may think it wrong for me to connect our industrial progress with the East and West Coast railway, but in my opinion, whether our railways will pay little or much will greatly depend upon what policy we pursue in regard to our industrial development. The more the towns of Canterbury are surrounded by factories of various kinds, the more interchange will there be between the districts connected by the iron horse, in the special productions of each district. The factories of Canterbury will keep busy the coal-mines of Greymouth and Westport, as also the sawmills of Hokitika and district; and again, the products of Canterbury and Nelson will go to cheapen the cost of living on the coast. Men, after the work of harvesting is done, can, within a few hours.

betake themselves to the golden regions of the ' West Coast, where, either in the mine or sawmill, they can find a new field for their labour. Gentlemen, I am sorry to have taken up your time so long. With Mr Matson I can say that New Zealand has been my home for the best part of my life ; my children are all born here, and I should be sorry to advocate the entering upon a great undertaking had I the least doubt upon its proving a burden to the country. lam never over sanguine, but I believe, and I have had 25 years' practical experience in the Colonies, that the East and West Coast railway will be one of the most beneficial Colonial works ever undertaken, and I can only say to you again that you must will that it shall be undertaken. I travel through all parts of New Zealand, and shall be glad to do anything I can in gaining supporters for this undertaking.