Tuapeka Times. A GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1885.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1181, 19 September 1885, Page 2

Tuapeka Times. A GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1885.

"measures, not men."

If anything could intensify the contemptuous feeling with which the G-o-vernment are regarded throughout the country, this has been brought about by their allowing the Public Works Estimates to be cut and carved at the will of the Opposition and the Canterbury malcontents. We are far from asserting that the reduction on the aggregate rotes may not be prudent and in the direction of sound economy ; but, on the contrary, we are inclined to the opinion that the circumstances of the Colony do not justify expenditure which necessitates further immediate borrowing, involving additional taxation to meet the augmented permanent charges. Before the public indebtedness is increased, it is absolutely essential in the public interests that material retrenchment should be effected in the ordinary expenditure of the Colony, so that there may be means to provide interest without overburdening the people with taxation. It may be quite right and proper, therefore, to knock halfa-million off the Public Works Estimates; but that Ministers who brought these down and recommended them to the House, having, it is to be presumed; well considered what they were about,and settled in their judgment the works to be proceeded with, should stick to office with their Estimates thrown in their faces, is quite another matter. It is little less than a scandal to representative institutions that they should continue on the Treasury Benches, " ignominious but contented," having failed to carry a single point of their policy, and powerless to give effect to their principles, if, collectively, they indeed possess things so inconvenient to a Coalition Cabinet so far as railway construciion is concerned. The reductions on the proposed votes, amounting in the whole to something under £400,000, do not affect works under contract, and will

therefore not result in throwing any ! number of men out of employment at preserii Otago suffers specially in the postponement of the completion of the Ofcago, Cential to the aVTaniototpTlains, ,since, -although tho 'Wingatat viaduct will be' fi ntebed, or i'a uojirse' - of l^ing finished, this year, six bridges, which should be put in hand at once, roust stand over until a further appropriation is made next session. Nearly £300, 000 has been expended on this line — an expenditure entirely unremunerative until the open country is tapped. From an economical point of view, therefore, the reduction of this vote is a great mistake. The Waimea-Switzers branch railway has also to stand over, the whole vote (£10,000) having been struck ont. This, again, in, regard to the opening up of the interior is much to be regretted, since the formation of the first seven miles has been completed, with the exception of the bridges. The Canterbury members would seem, after all, and in the face of what looked like hopeless faction, to have got the Colony committed to the construction of the East and West Coast and Nelson rail* ways. The proposed vote of £150,000 was not struck out, but reduced by £149,000, leaving an appropriation for the year of £1,000, which, W3 conceive, will be found to be the thin edge of the wedge. Under all the circumstances, it is, we think, to be desired that the construction may after all be undertaken by a syndicate, and the country generally would be willing to somewhat extend the concessions provided in the Act of last session, should these be found really a bar to the work being forthwith taken in hand. It may, we presume, be considered pretty certain that the Govern, ment will survive the session, seemingly satisfied with place and power, retained at the sacrifice of all which ennobles either. They will thus have a chance of redeeming the past, and may do so if they let themselves sedulously and in right earnest to work out financial and economical reforms, so that the revenue, without additional taxation, may suffice not only to meet the ordinary expenditure, but leave a large margin for providing interest on future loans. I The public works must not be stopped ; but they must not be based on the pauperization of the people.

As might have been expected, Mr J. F. M. Fraser stood alone in his motion to dispense with the present Secretary of the Education Board, with the view of appointing a gentleman qualified to act as an inspector in his stead, and to dismiss, one of the inspectors at the same time. Mr Fraser made a good case, showing that up to the year 1882 two inspectors had performed the work of inspection very well, and that the increase of daily attendance was only 1,500 since then. "The Board would then have the benefit of a Secretary," said Mr Fraaer, " possessing an accurate touch of all the departments, and qualified by his profession to advise the teaching staff." Besides the question of economy, that of having a man in the education office qualified to advise the teachers is a very important one. Mr Begg championed the Secretary, stating that he had served his apprenticeship under Dr Hislop, and had a "large experience and knowledge of localities, school buildings, teachers and tbeir qualijicaHons" This latter is Burely an original discovery on the part of Mr Begg. Mr Fraser correctly hinted at the true state of affairs when he said that "an unfavorable impression prevailed to the effect that our educational machinery was working in a certain groove, and he fancied it would not be a bad thing if a new departure were taken and that state of things remedied." The educational machinery has jarred cons'derably on many occasions, where a gentleman with dignity to support him might have smoothed matters over, and saved all after trouble. The Ofcago Education Board is a very costly one with its large staff of officials, and when the strained relations known to exist between the present Secretary and a large number of the teachers is taken into account, Mr Fraser's motion was perfectly justified, and although he stood alone he has touched a principle which may receive fuller consideration in future. Two inspectors could easily enough overtake the work of inspection, and could Mr Taylor be appointed Secretary and Inspector, the jolting machinery would run more smoothly, and a considerable saving would be effected. The latter gentleman knows all these details referred to by Mr Begg, and is besides competent to judge the qualifications of teachers. However, the Board has decided in the meantime to leave matters in statu quo.