The Guardian (Brisbane), 6 February 1866, p. 1
GENTLEMEN,— I have, to day, accepted a seat at the
Executive Council in the administration formed by Mr. Macalister, on Mr
Herbert’s resignation.
The position assigned to me as the representative of the new
Government in the Legislative Council renders it necessary that I should resign
my seat in the Assembly. This I do with great regret, for I have always
received, if I have not always merited, your very kind consideration, and it
has required some resolution on my part to forego the privilege of still
continuing to be your representative.
With Mr. Herbert’s resignation a new period commences; and I
now join the administration formed by Mr. Macalister in the hope that I may
contribute to maintain the honor, and secure the prosperity of the colony.
The public mind is no longer divided on the railway
question, as it was during the sessions of 1863 and 1864. At that time, in
common with Mr. Mackenzie and some other members of Parliament, who were far
from wishing to offer resistance to measures calculated to develop the internal
resources of the country, I took a part in the opposition to the adoption of
the unusually narrow gauge which then appeared to be unsupported by sufficient
experience.
I was also decidedly of opinion that the debt incurred by
the formation of these useful works might have been made chargeable against the
districts specially benefitted by their construction; and that the proceeds of
the land sold in those districts might have provided the means of liquidating
the interest and capital amount of the liability created. It seemed to me that
the conflicting claims of the various portions of a great territory might thus
have been satisfied.
A different policy, however, prevailed; one which, in the
opinion of Parliament, is calculated to secure with greater rapidity the
benefits which the colony will most undoubtedly derive from the formation of
iron highways. The large expenditure thus authorised has stimulated enterprise,
and, concurrently with our immigration system, has contributed to our
remarkable progress.
The policy of all colonies indeed is more or less directed
to the introduction of surplus capital and population from the old world; and
there is no more effectual way of doing this than by providing facilities for
its transport by sea and land. The conduct of immigration, like that of an army
of occupation, requires that its lines of communication should be kept open.
Nothing, therefore, should be allowed to menace these. The works we have
commenced are not likely seriously to overtask our strength; the resources of
this territory are surely sufficient to justify the construction of railways
from Ipswich and from Rockhampton—two places so manifestly pointed out by
nature as starting points for the interior. They are surely sufficient to
justify the preliminary steps which have been taken for opening out steam
postal communication through Torres Straits. The extension or completion of
those projects must, of course be gradual, and will be measured by the means at
our command; but it is not in the execution of works like these that I should
be disposed to advise the adoption of a fallacious economy which might dwarf
our expanding energies.
It is in the large annual expenditure for the ordinary
purposes of government, and in the serious amounts required for country roads,
and for the improvement of our river navigation, that I recognise our departure
from strict principles of economy.
The country roads may, in accordance with the practice
elsewhere, be supported by municipal taxation; the harbors and rivers by trust
dues; and, if, at the same time, a willingness be manifested to balance the
ordinary revenue and expenditure without having recourse to excessive taxation,
we may fairly expect to retain the confidence of the English capitalists who
lend us money, and who will continue to lend us what we require if we only show
them that we are making a good use of our opportunities and are anxious to
sustain our credit.
I regret that I shall not have it in my power to address you
on these and many other matters of public interest; our relations have always
been of such a friendly nature, that it would have afforded me great pleasure
to have had an opportunity of resigning to you in person a trust which has not,
I hope, been unfaithfully discharged.
My services are still at your command, and, though I am not
called upon to undertake duties which require from me an active discharge of
administrative functions, I trust that the influential position in which I have
been placed may conduce to my experience, and may render me more capable of
being useful to my fellow-colonists.—I am, gentlemen, your most obedient
servant,
JOHN DOUGLAS.
Brisbane, February 1, 1866.
