The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1886. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1525, 29 June 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1886. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

A tone of melancholy preraded the whole of Mr Richardson’s Public Works Statement, From reading the report of it telegraphed from Wellington, one could not help picturing the honorable gentlemen using bis pockethandkerchief freely to tripe the tears which be shed over the reduction in the estimates last year. He was not satisfied with haring told the House once or twice or three times that the reduction curtailed the spending powers of the Government, but repeated the same thing so frequently that one conld not help thinking of Mr Dick and the head of King Charles. There was, however, more method in Mr Richardson’s madness than in poor Mr Dick’s. After Mr Richardson left the North Island, and commenced to deal with the railways and public works of the South Island, the reductions of last year ranisbed, and he never thougiit again of them. He sailed through smoothly, bnt very dully, till the harbors of Timaru, Oamaru and Dunedin rose before bis mental vision, and here the tears fell again over the foot that the works carried on at these ports had

considerably lessened railway revenue. On tho whole he was dreary, dull, and sad, but really wo do not think he bad any necessity lor it. No doubt it was a good political dodge to let North Islanders know that only for Captain Hassell, and those who voted for bis motion last year, their railways would have been pushed on more energetically. It may possibly influence the elections next year. At the same time to mention it once or twice wonld have been enough, especially when he was able to show that he bad still unexpended L 768,780 of last year’s vole. The amount the Estimates were reduced by last year was L 500.000, and Mr Richardson bad a quarter of a million more than this amount to the good at the end of the year. His liabilities were certainly more than his credit balance, but at the same tine he could hare spent more had ho desired to do so. The statement was remarkable in more ways than one. It is usual to begin such statements with an account of the funds at the disposal of the department, next to show the progress made with the works undertaken the previous year, and then give a resumt of the works required. Mr Richardson commenced at the tail end of bis speech, and labored through it, mixing up things in a most confused manner. However, this is a matter of taste. The principal matter in the statement to which we object is the proposal to continne immigration. VV hat do we want immigrants for 7 Ho we want to swell the ranks of the unemployed ? Is it not not nonsense to continue assisting: penniless people to come into this colony when we cannot Gnd anything like sufficient employment for those who are in it 7 Mr Richardson gravely tells us that during fast year 545 immigrants wera brought into this colony, while at the same time be speaks of the numerous relief works which had to be started to keep the unemployed from starving. It is trne certainly that the Government only pay half the passage money at present, bat why should they pay this half in times of such fearful depression as the present ? It is really astonishing bow men who go about screaming economy can set down calmly and vote away LI 9,000 a year for this purpose. Here is a department in which great reductions could be made, yet no one ever seems to think of making any change. There is another feature of the statement that does not appear to us very satisfactory. Common sense will tell anyone that the numerous works proposed to be carried out will not be finished without further borrowing. Another loan will undoubtedly be required next year, and another the year after, and it will go on until our credit is stopped, The sooner the better,