The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." MONDAY, SEPTEMBER, 22, 1902. LEGAL BRIBERY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11744, 22 September 1902, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." MONDAY, SEPTEMBER, 22, 1902. LEGAL BRIBERY.

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones ie evidently bent on making the pace. He is proving himself an apjt pupil'of the school in which he has been trained.- In view, no doubt, of the approachiing general elections, 'he has "clome down handsome" with a Public Works Statement forecasting an expenditure of £2,193,052, which, with tlhe £45,000 undfe-r the Loans to Looal Bodies' Account, is increased to tiiie startling total of £2,238.-052, or nearly £100,000 more than wa-s provided for in the record proposals of last year. We have given the Hon. Hall-Jones, Mm ster of Public Works, credit for this .ear's record-breaking proposals, but it occms to us that Mr. Janes may, after all, be inerd'.y the mioutihpiece of his temporary chief, Sir Joseph, Ward. We do not think it would injure the reputation of the Minister of Public Work* if this were proved to be really the case. This year's Publio Works Statement' is nothing to be proud of. Taken as a whole it may be described aa a vicious bid for support at the polls—reckless, improvident, unbusi-ness-like, and politically immoral. Mr. James Allen, in commencing the debate on tflio Statement in the House on Friday nigiht, very naiturally 'drew attention to the marked contrast between the protestations of economy amiade by the Premier last year and tlie wildly extravagant proposals now sanctioned' by hisi deputy. "Last year," said Mr. Allen, "the Premier had enunciated a 'go slow' policy, but from this year's Statement it appeared that the country wjaa being handed over to a wild plunger." The electors will remember hoAV emphatjo Mr. Sedd'on was in his announcement that it would be necessary ta practice economy. His preaching wart excellent, though his ;übsequent practice has been bad, and one might almost imagine tbaib Sir Joseph Ward had his absenib chief in his mind's eye when, in reply to Mr. Allen, he asserted that "there had been a good deal

of political hypocrisy preached." However that may be, tihere is notflring hypocritical about the Acting-Premier's jpolicy. Boldly, unabashed, and with, a s>uprem« contempt for the proprieties, he lends his countenance to a policy of undisguised extravagance. Money is to be ladled out all over the colony; the constituencies are to be bribed to secure the success cd the Cabinet at the polls. The viciousnesß of the policy is made apparent by Sir Joseph Ward himself. "Not one member," lie declared on Friday night, in concluding foils reply to Mr. Allen, "dares to move for a reduction of proposed votes in his dwn particular district." In otlier words, this means: "We are scattering the money among the electorates; wei want votes, and are prepared to pay for them (with the people's money); if you raise your voice against our proposals for your district you will play into our hands, for your constituents will vote for the boodle." This, clearly, is a fair and reasonable interpretation of the ActingPremier's challenge to those members who conscientiously object to the proposed extravagance. "This," says Ohristchurcih "Truth," "is a higher fight of impudent corruption than even the Sedd'on Government has hitherto reached). H«M a rndllioin is to .be spent on tha necessary railways of the colony, a million and three-quarters is to be dribbled away in buying votes in December next. We all know how it is* done. We recall a striking instance wthdeh came under our notice in connection with the recent byeelection at Patea. An isolated district was promised a bridge aiorossi an intervening river if Mr. Haselden was ousted and although a few weeks before that gentleman had had a whacking majority, the whole district voted tor Mr. Heslop, in the ihope of getting its bridge. The case was the more remarkable inasmuch as in all other pieces Mr. Haseldten's niajority was increased. We merely give this case asan example of the methods of the Go.vemment ia retaining its grip upon the ;p;eo>ple of the colony." Another contemporary, in referring to the abiiud policy of "building railways in driblets," says): "It is ridiculous to read of £3000 being given to the Rivensdaile-Switzers line, £6000 to the Heriot Extension, £15,000 to the Orepuki-Waitao', and so on through a list of pauper doles to purely political railways, wM'ie the great trunk lines of the colony are crawling along at such a snail's pace tlbat it seems as if doomsdlay will arrive before tUiey are finished. No business company or firm would behave in this lunatic fashion. It is not in this way that' Lord Cromer has raised Egypt) from the depths of bankruptcy to the highest state of prosperity. We doubt, indeep, if there is any part of fhe world, except New Zealand, where money is spent on so-called public works, not with a view to getting a legitimate return in S • shape of profit or increased convenience to the public, but merely to please locajl residents, and so buy votes. Our Public Works Fund should be rechrrisitened anl called the 'Political Bribery Fund,' or 'Local Constituencies Corruption Fund? for hat is what it really is." The electors rould do well to decline to be deceived by so evident a bribe, .and to seriously hfed the warning given by Mr. Ai'len, that if this kind of thing is permatited. to go on increased taxation mustb be the in?vitable result. When this comes the burden will fall on every bona fide colonist, but hardest of all on the reputable and thrifty

worker.