THE OTAGO CENTRAL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 418, 18 February 1890, Page 2

THE OTAGO CENTRAL.

The nature of our political constitution is not always favorable to frank speaking, and when any work is clamored for by the popular voice many men who ought to speak out have not the courage to give open expression to their opinions, and prefer to drift with the tide of popular favor. Mr Larnach, an Otago member has given proof that his being a member for that district will not prevent him giving honest expression to his opinions. This ;s what he has to say in regard to he Otago Central railway, against the construction of which we have so often protested :—“ He was one of those who thought the Otago Central should never have been commenced. Although something like half a million had already been expended on it and it would take £300,000 more to take it to the point proposed, it was doubtful whether it would. then give a return of 1 per cent. The question was whether it would be wiser to leave the line in its present unproductive state, costing the colony £22,000 a year, or to spend or in getting a return of I per cent, on the whole amount. That was a matter for them to consider. He was not advocating the leaving of the line alone, as he thought, under the circumstances —a certain amount of money having been spent, and the people in this colony led to believe that the line would be made—it was better perhaps that a sufficient sum of money should be spent to carry the line to a point that would promote settlement. Hisfriend Mr Pyke, had run a little wild on this subject; he certainly had been most enthusiastic ; but he (Mr Larnach) felt sure that had he to provide the means to construct that line, and look for a return for the money expended, he would hesitate before he advocated so enthusiastically as he had the carrying on of the line to a much greater extent. Those who had travelled on the line must have seen that it was through very rocky country that it had already been made, and it would be the most expensive line in the colony to maintain. He, however, would be glad, if the Government were prepared to find the money in a legitimate way—-in the same way as for other railways—to support the carrying on of the line to a point where it would be of use to promote settlement.”