THE OTAGO CENTRAL JOB.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 322, 9 July 1889, Page 2

THE OTAGO CENTRAL JOB.

There appears to be a tolerably good chance of the Otago Central Railway Bill getting through the House this session. If it does we can thank (or curse) the borrow and squander policy for another blow to the prospects of the colony, for the sake of gratifying the selfishness of certain portions of it. One does not need to be an adept at finance to judge of the ridiculousness of the figures produced, but taking them as they are the position of affairs is a most unpleasing one. As one outspoken journal has truly said, it means nothing less than the addition of job to job. The Premier, in effect, admits that half a million has been spent in vain, and says that there are now two alternatives—abandon the forty miles of railway already made, or spend /’zoo.ooo more in the further construction of 38 miles. In the latter case there is a ‘‘ hope ” that after a time the whole of the line will pay working expenses, but it is not denied that no interest will be got out of it. That is not by any means the worst of it. When the three-quarters of a million have been spent on it, the line may not only not succeed in paying expenses, but it will help to famish two other lines. It will diminish the traffic passing over the line from Dunback to Dunedin (50 miles), and, in a less degree, some of the traffic passing over the Lawrence-Dunedin line of 60 miles. The Wellington Press has a very sensible article on the subject, the substance of which is as follows What is the House to do with a proposal of this kind ? They are asked to lay out £200,000, over and above /■500,000 already spent, to add to the conveniences of 9000 people ; to improve the values of the properties of the landowners, including the properties of the 23 runholders in the schedule, for the remainder of the terms of their leases. It is not pretended that they are without railway communication ; 0 > the contrary they have the benefit of 110 miles of railway already, in two separate lines. This new line is to compete with the other two Government lines for their -traffic. Yet we believe that the House will have to assent to the Bill. It is the penalty which the colony has to pay for its debauch. It must take “ a hair of the dog that bit it," and it is better to take one hair than swallow again a whole skin of it. Sir Harry at least offers it in a penitential form,—we are to pay for our sins out of our income,—we are not to resort to loan. That at any rate is something, if it is an honest proposal and not a mere financial operation which means a loan inpresenii, with a promise to pay on doubtful paper. The worst part of the concession is the fact that the sin has been quite unpunished and those who profited by the sin are to profit still further. The whole colony is to suffer, and the men who have been enriched by the profligate expenditure bear none of the penalty.