THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 18

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

A meeting of the members of the executive of the Obago Central Railway League and a number of the members of Parliament for Obago ■was held in the office of Mr R. H. Leary at coon on Monday. There were present : Messrs W. Barron (chairman), J. Carroll, A. Burt, C. R. Chapman, C. S. Reeves, J. Rattray, J. T. Mackerras, S. N. Brown, L. M. Shaw, and A. Bathgate as representing the committee ; and the following members of Parliament— Messrs D. Pinkerton, W. Earnshaw, W. Hutchison, J. A.. Millar, A. Morrison, W. Fraser, J. Allen, and T. Mackenaie. Mr Baeron, who occupied the chair, said the meeting had been called so that they might be able to see what progress was being made with the Otago [Central railway, and if there was any reason for interfering or urging that more progress should be made before the end of the present financial year. It had been deemed wise to ask members of Parliament to meet the executive because it was now within about a month of the end of the financial year, and sometimes when repiesentations were made to the Government in connection with works of this kind the objection was taken that the financial year had closed and the vote had lapsed. They had heard from the district that the amount of progress that should be made was not being made in the section beyond Hyde, and they had also had strong representations to urge the running of the line from this end. Mr Pinkerton would remember that he had got a promise from the Minister that the section to Hyde should be running before the close of 1892. Then there seemed to be some misunderstanding about the promise, and it was said that what was meant was the end of the financial year, 31st March 1893. The financial year ending 31st March 1894 was just about closing, the line had not been extended to Hyde, and they were told that the roads were in such a fearful state that traffic in the district was worse now than before the line was constructed. It was important the line should be opened to Hyde without undue delay, and they should greatly regret anything that would interfere even for a short time with the progress of the work beyond Hyde. Information was available to members of Parliament which the league could not obtain, and they therefore asked members to make inquiries as to the progress of this work. They did not want to find fault if there was no reason for fault finding, but desired information as to what was being done. Representations that had been made led the league to believe the Government were not pushing on the line, but having no official status the league could not go to the Public Works office for information unless authorised to do so. Members of Parliament were, however, in a different position and might get such information. They could be vigilant befoie the close of the financial year, so that there need be go misunderstanding between themselves and the Government as to the vigorous prosecution of thia work. Mr Pinkerton, M.H.R., might say he was disappointed that the railway was not finished and running to Hyde, but at the same time nothing had come within his knowledge to indicate that the money voted from time to time for this work had not been made the best use of. The prosecution of the line beyond Hyde must depend to a great extent upon the completion of the line on this side of Hyde, and he understood the Government bent all their energies to this in the meantime. The bridges seemed to have cost more money than had been anticipated, and had taken a longer time to construct. .He did not know who was to blame for this, and was not blaming anyone. As to getting information from the Public Works department, he thought that could only be done through the Minister. He might say they had got certain information, and, as far as he was able to judge, the works had not been kept back in any way by the Government, who had pushed the work on in accordance with the advice of the engineers. The financial year would soon close, but money not expended then did not necessarily lapse, it only lapsed in so far that it had to be re- voted, but it could be expended and made a liability to be voted on the next Estimates. He was not aware of anything in connection with the line further than that the Premier had given a conditional promise that the line should be running to Hyde within a certain time, which promise had not been fulfilled. He was not aware of anything that could have been done with the means at the disposal of the Government that had not been done, and he thought the Premier, and was certain that the Minister for Lands, was as anxious as anyone.presenb to forward the interests of the railway. He had from time to time urged the more speedy prosecution of this work, and the reply he had received was that it was being carried on as fast as circumstances would permit. Unless they had something definite to show that the work was not carried on vigorously he did not know that much could be done, but if anyone could point out where there had been unnecessary delay he would be one to do all that was possible to further this work. What was being done with the vote now at the disposal of the Government he could not say, but he believed the sum actually available for the line this year was £37,000. Mr Barron : You understand that £37,000 is the sum available for expenditure beyond Hyde? Mr Finkerton said that was the amount for expendituro on the line, to complete it to Hyde and to carrying it on beyond that point. That was really the whole vote. The year before last the amount practically available was £28,000. There was a liability from the previous year of, speaking from memory, £8159. The sum then authorised for expenditure was £36,000, and deducting from this vote the former liability of £8000 odd previously expended, as had to be done, that left roa>e £23,000 for expenditure up to the session of 1893. The sum of £20,000 was shown as having been expended up to the 3lßt of March 1893, and further Habilitii-s hud been incurred amounting to £8259, which, wirh the £20,000 expended up to March 1893, made up the amouut of £28,000 odd actually expended in the year 1893 ; so that, so far as he knew, the whole of the money that year had been expended. He did not know what was being done this year, but if the Government were not prosecuting the work now as vigorously as the means at their disposal would permit, he thought they should insist upon that being done.

Mr Barron said that the information, reaching the executive of the league, was that a number of men were being discharged from the worka. The reason given was that this was done so as not to interfere with theeraplojmenb of mea for harvesting. This might be temporarily necessary, but the line should not be neglected, for the people were entitled to have this work vigorously prosecuted. Mr Fraser, M.H.R., thought they should ascertain from the Government what portion of the money allocated for the purpose had been expended. It was, he thought, almost too soon to lay the blame upon anybody. They should first get definite information.

Mr Pixeekton said he had been informed by the district engineer from time to time that thn line was beiDg prosecuted as fast as the money would allow. Mr Leahy said the Government were autho-

rised by the Appropriation Act to incur liabilities to the extent of £60,000 for this year. Mr Barron remarked that in that case there could be no reason to urge want of funds. Mr W. Earnshaw, M.H.R., said he differed a little with regard to the figures Mr Pinkerton had laid before them. The difference between the liabilities they had to meet and the liabilities left over was only £100 odd. If the Government had this year spent £45,000 on this work there was nothing to complain of, but he thought it would be found that the same applied to this vote that applied to everything else that concerned Otago. There appeared to him to be a strong desire on the part of the Government to meet the House with a good surplus rather than to expend the votes passed by the House. That was his opinion, and they found it confirmed by the action of the Government regarding the Dunedin Gaol, the Dunedin Hospital, and other works in Otago. He did not think the vote had been expended, and he noticed that while the reason given to the Maniototo Farmers' Club was that the men were discharged so as to provide employees for farmers, it was notorious that in Dunedin the explanation was that it was owing to the revenue not coming in, and that the vote was practically exhausted. Of course, if the vote was exhausted there was nothing to complain of. In that room he had previously strongly supported the Government against statements made by the late member for Dunedin as to money not being expended, but he had then strong reason to believe that the Government were in earnest with regard to the Otago Central ; and regarding Catlins line, they were all aware that the Premier said respectiog the Catlins line that he should not make two bites of a cherry. Well, it seemed to him the Premier was not making a bite at all with regard to that line and that Owaka would not be reached this year. They had been promised that the Central line should be opened to Hyde two years ago, and then that it should be opened in March last. The Premier admitted in the House that he did mean March last, but the fact was the line had only reached Moloney's, and he had information upon which he could rely that the formation works were in a backward state between Moloney's and Hyde. He felt sure that Hyde would not be reached when the House met in June next, and that it was necessary the Otago members should preßS the Government more strongly on this subject. Ofcago stood in a different position from any other provincial district of the colony, owing to the dispersion of its shipping trade, and it appeared to him that the Government were more desirous of opening up new lands in the North Island than of opening up Otago whore they now had Crown lands. He felt sure that the expenditure of £50,000 cm the Otago Central railway would give a better return than the expenditure of the same sum in the purchase of land for settlement in the North Island. Last year the Premier admitted that the circumstances of Obago were of such a character that it was tho duty of the Government to see justice done to this provincial district. But was justice being done to Otago ? He ventured to say the Government were not doing justice, for he ventured to say that the votes were not being expended, and that such would be found to be the case on the meeting of Parliament. He agreed with the chairman that it was the duty of members to press the Gavernment to spend the actual vote before March 31. Not to do this and to say it was unnecessary because subsequently liabilities could be incurred was an old scheme that had been adopted by all political parties, but it appeared to him to be far from satisfactory. It seemed clear to him that the Government had not done justice to Otago either with regard to this line or Catlins, and he for one would press upon the Government the expenditure of the whole sum allocated.

Mr James Allen, M.H.R., said he did not like to raise a provincial cry, but he could not help agreeing with what Mr Earnsbaw had said and re-echoing his sentiments. Still, what they now wanted to find out was how much of the £45,000 appropriated for the work had been expended. He presumed all the members of Parliament present were willing to join together for the purpose of finding out the position, discovering whether the money was being expended, and reporting to the league, so that, if necessary, pressure might be brought on the Government to get the whole £45,000 expended. Mr Pinkerton : By March 31. Mr Allen: Yes. Mr Pinkerton : Then what would you do between that time and September P

Mr Allen replied that the Government were authorised to incur liabilities to the extent of £60,000. He agreed with Mr Earnshaw that in the interests of Otago all the members should jsin together and press for this expenditure, for what he had said was perfectly true— that more could be done in the interests of settlement by the expenditure of £45,000 on the Otago Central than by buying estates in the North Island for settlement.

Mr Carroll thought the Government would expend on the Otago Central the sum appropriated if unitedly pressed to do so by the Otago members.

Mr S. N. Brown thought the great difficulty would be removed if the members UDited in pressing upon the Government that this line should not be made an asylum for the unemployed, but should be gone on with as a national work. But even the unemployed were not kept on the work, for they were discharged at the earliest opportunity. He thought members should urge upon the Government to remove the Obago Central from the category of works for the unemployed, for which purpose alone it was made use of. The slow progress it was making had a bad effect upon Obago.

Mr C. S. REEVi-s was of opinion that greater progress must be made if anyone present was to live to see the line completed to the Dunstan. This work wa3 neglected, while the Government purchased land in other portions of the colony and drew population from Ofcago. The thiug seemed to him monstrous, and to call for united action on the part of Otago members so as to have this work vigorously prosecuted. The work should not be done on the makeshift plan of engaging a few unemployed, but should be let by contract, and, if necessary, a loan should be raised for the purpose.

Mr Eahnshaw said if the Government would vote sums such as had been allocated for the work for the lasb two years and would actually spend them, the line would certainly reach Eweburn in three years. That seemed to him the right course. If they thought of a loan they should remember thut as agaiDsfc two or three works iii Otago there weru innumerable claims from other parts of the colony, and that the members for othtr paris of the colony, who pulled together in these matters, would take care to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for themselves. No matter how much the members for the North Island differed in politics, it would be found they would go together for votes, and it would be to the interest of Otago to have the lino constructed by the due expenditure of fair appropriations made from year to year for that purpose. Mr Pixkerton took exception to the remarks made by Mr Brown. He was not aware that the progress of this line had been made sub-

sidiary to the question of unemployed. The unemployed had been given the work because its execution was necessary, and it could be well carried out in this way. It should be remembered also that there were other unfinished works in the colony. He would be one to find out what portion of the money allocated remained unexpended, and to urge its expenditure ; but there was no use in fighting shadows. If they wanted a loan raised let them say so, and if they thought it should be let to contractors they could say that they preferred that system to carrying on the work by the co-operative plan. Mr Earnshaw said he had understood Mr Brown to say that the work should not be kept simply for the purpose of absorbing the unemployed, and that the progress of the line should not be measured by the necessity of finding work for the unemployed. With that statement he ventured to agree. There was no necessity to dismiss the men in order that farmers should find harvest hands, and if there was, there were still plenty of men in the city anxious to go to work oh the railway.

Mr A. Morrison, M.H.R., thought that all the members present were pretty well agreed as to the necessity for pushing on the Otago Central railway. It seemed to him immaterial whether £36,000 was expended in co-operative works or in contract works so long as the Government expended daring the financial year the sum appropriated. He considered that they should have had some data to go upon before the members were called together, and that the information the chairman had indicated as being in the possession of the executive of the league should have been placed before them. He recognised that the Otago Central railway should be vigorously prosecuted, and that they should do what they could unitedly to that end, but failed to see why they should raiße the question of co-operative versus contract work, or discuss what the North Island members would do.

Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H R., said that though he might be considered an outsider, he desired to help the people of Otago in respect of this Central railway. It was evident that Otago was not getting a fair share from the coffers of the colony at the present time. To a large extent they were being played with. It was very pleasant to hear Mr Pinkerton defending the Government, but at the same time they knew that only £20,000 had been ppent on the Obago Central last year. Compare with that what had been done on the Hokitika line? Although there was not authority for spending anything like the same amount on that line, there had been expended on the Hokitika railway £35,000, and up to the present time it had not yielded one farthing in return. Mr Morrison had said they had no data to go upon regarding the Obago Central. Well, he had data regarding Catlins river, and could say they had been tiddlewinkiug there with 20 or 30 men, expending at the outside £250 a month when they had a clear vote of £7500, which ought to be expended before tho cloße of the financial year. It was time for the people of Dunedin to be aroused to the position of affairs. Dunedin had been the commercial metropolis of New Zealand, and promised to be its chief manufacturing centre, but now trade was drained from it to the south and to the north, and land was purchased for settlement in other parts when there was a large amount of country in Obago Central, the opening up of which might employ all the people of Obago. This Central line was not a mere local work, and its construction would effect settlement in the south. In the south there was an immense quantity of timbered land, and if the Obago Central line was prosecuted then hundreds of people might be employed at once cutting that timber, for the whole of it would be required in Central Ofcago. On the Catlins line £100,000 had been spent, and £5000 or £6000 would take it to the centre of the district, where hundreds of people might be employed turning into utility the magnificent timber which was now looked upon as an encumbrance. If the Catlins railway and the Otago Central to Maniototo were completed he believed that would very nearly return interest on the total expenditure instead of being almost absolutely unreproductive. Otago members ought to insist that the moneys yearly allocated for works in this provincial district should be expended. As it was they were not expended, and no amount of sophistry would prove that they were. What had they done in regard to the Eketahuna and Grey-mouth-Hokitika railways P He would venture to say that every farthing secured for those lines was expended, and that liabilities on them would be entailed and put into next year's appropriations. Mr Bathgate moved — "That the Otago members of the House here present be requested to ascertain the exact position of the vote for the works on the Otago Central railway, and make such representation to the Government as may be necessary to secure a more vigorous prosecution of the work, and meet us here this day week and report the result of their inquiries." Mr S. N. Brown seconded the motion.

Mr William Hutchison, M.H.R , Baid it did not appear to him that the meeting would further the interests of the Otago Central line very much, and that it occurred to him that the motion made by Mr Bathgate might have been entirely unnecessary. It only required that a member of the league should have asked any member of Parliament to get this information, and it would have been got. Then they could have met with this information before them, and all this trouble would have been saved. A great many things had been said from which he dissented. Was it not absurd to talk about making a united effort when they could not speak two sentences without saying something which to a large extent must prevent union ? Why in a meeting like that should they impute motives to one another ?

Mr T. Mackenzie : Who has imputed motives ?

Mr Hutchison : You have. I say that Mr Mackenzie's speech has been most profuse in imputations. Mr Chapman thought they should press on the opem'Dg of the line as far as Moloney's.

Mr Earnshaw took it that their duty as members was to ask for information as to the expenditure of the £45,000. He thought the beet plan was to ask the Premier, who once told him if he was in any trouble to go to him at once. If they found that the sum mentioned had been spent, they could do nothing but get £70,000 on the Estimates next year.

Mr Morrison : Why didn't you get £70,000 last year ?

Mr Earnshaw : Because we were too subservient to a Liberal Government.

The motion was adopted, and the meeting terminated by the Chaihman tendering the thanks of the league to members of the House for their courtesy in attending.