DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11702, 11 March 1902, Page 3

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER.

Per Press Association.

DUNEDIN, March 10. A deputation waited on the Premier today to urge the claims for extension of thl Catlinsßiver Railway, it being pointed out that ten or fifteen miles further would take the line into the heart of a magnibcent forest. Tfce Premier, in reply, said that there was a question of policy involved, which must be looked at from two points. One point was the extension of a borrowing policy, and the other borrowing for given public works. He thought that New Zealand, with her limited population, must be content with a loan expenditure of about a million a year, and, he would resign office and leave the conduct of affairs to others rather than be a party to a policy that had led to disaster in pasfc.years. He was however, in thorough sympathy with the deputation in.saying that the Crown must take steps t to prevent • the Teckless .-waste' of timber resources. He woulil: call: for a report on the subject from the Commissioner of Crown Lands. He announced that there would be a surplus on the ordinary revenue of more than £250,000 this year, and that in all probability about £1,800,000 would be available for appropriation by Parliament. All he could say was that in framing the Public Works Estimates for next year this railway would be dealt with equitably in conjunction with other railway' works. ' •