THE COLONIST. Published Daily-Mornings. Nelson, Tuesday, May 14, 1895. GREEDY OTAGO.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8247, 14 May 1895, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily-Mornings. Nelson, Tuesday, May 14, 1895. GREEDY OTAGO.

It would seem tbat a section at all events of the people of Otago have set their hearts npon securing the completion of the Central Otago Kailway at any price. If it were probable that tbe land wbich may be opened up by the construction of such railway would produce grain or stock that would yield a profit to the growers after paying the cost of conveying same to port of shipment, the desire of those interested would be worthy of regard, but it does not seem that it ia even suggested that the land in Central Otago can yield with profit either grain or stock. Nevertheless, the people who are clamoring for public expenditure are by no means cast down because they are unable to show that there is a prospect of exporting produce of recognised value. They have apparently become elated in consequence of the statement of ■' Sign or Brogato," the viticulturist, as to the possibilities of Central Otago as a fruit producing country, and fancy that their cherished railway will be ren-

dered payable by tbe fruit tbat may be grown in tbe locality and carried by rail, Tbe fact tbat Mr Brogato stated that otber localities situate nearer centres of consumption were equally suitable for fruit growing is conveniently forgotten by tbose whose one thought is to secure the construction of tbe railway in question, and it is surely needless to point out tbat if Central Otago were only able to produce a number of tons of grapes and other fruit the railway would have nothing to carry for many months in tbe year. It is simply a sign of a very weak case when fruit growing for a restricted market is held out as the one inducement why many thousands of pounds should be expended on the construction of the Otago Central Railway. The locality referred to is not the only place where fruit may be grown, and it is only a week or two ago it was reported that fruit was left rotting in the Feilding district, although it possesses railway connection with Wellington, because it would not stand tbe cost of transit. In Nelson tbe fruit growing industry is languishing because the growers are undersold by more distant conpetitors, who enjoy an advantage in respect to freights, and though 'in the long run our local producers may have the victory, growers in the colder South will always be at a disadvantage. Unfortunately the enthusiasm and the self interest of our Southern friends is likely to prove detrimental to the Colony unless the majority of the people determine to oppose an injustice. At a late meeting of the Otago Central Railway League the opinion was expressed that if the Colony could borrow money at three per cent, it should go in for a loan to finish the line. One member with greater diplomacy went a stage further, and suggested that two or three millions should be borrowed co finish uncompleted lines. The suggestion simply means that the taxpayers of the Colony may be made to contribute to pay for works that will benefit no one save the constructors, and in their own interests and those of the Colony we sincerely trust that tbey will sternly oppose any proposal to add to the indebtedness of the Colony for such an undertaking as the Otago Central Line, at all events, for tbe present.