Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/185

 The Railway-Builders ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 159 of the leader in 1866 he re-constuicted the Government as Premier, and he was a member of the Ayers Ministry of 1872. The programme of Mr. Boucaut, enunciated in 1875, was so bold that it startled the whole community. Taking account of the recent developments in the country, and of the possibilities of the future, he propounded a public works policy, the like of which the Province had never known before. To this day it is known as "The Boucaut Policy." There was a good deal of the statesman in Mr. Boucaut, and his views had a national aspect. He proposed to raise a loan of three millions sterling, to be expended in reproductive and national works, such as building 550 miles of railway to tap the north country, connect with the Murray, form the nucleus of an overland line communicating with the eastern colonies, and to serve the producers in the South-East. In addition, he proposed to improve the harbors, to build jetties, schoolhouses, and other useful structures. F"or several years suggestions had been made by different Governments to construct a railway to the Murray, and to extend the system in other directions ; but beyond a railway to Burra, and shorter lines in other parts, nothing had been done. The mere idea of raising three millions of money seemed so tremendous that for a time the community drew back. Mr. Boucaut was not foolish enough to saddle the Province with debt without making ample and direct provision for the payment of interest, and introduced a Stamp Duties Bill for this purpose. This passed the House of Assembly, but on the same day that his public works programme was propounded in the Lower House, the Legislative Council negatived the Stamp Duties Bill. Parliament was prorogued, so that the public might have an opportunity of expressing an opinion. Judging by the tone of public meetings and memorials, its views were unmistakably in favor of Mr. Boucaut's scheme, which seemed more feasible and attractive and useful the longer it was considered. Parliament assembled again on November ro, and two days later the Government introduced four Bills into the Assembly — the Stamp Duties Bill, and Bills providing for railway and other public works construction. The Assembly quickly passed the first measure, which was once more submitted to the mercy of the Upper Chamber. Its fate was as before : it was thrown out by a majority of one. Says Hodder : — " Much popular indignation was expressed at eight men being thus able to defy the wish of the Colony, and proposals were heard that the term of service of members of the Upper House should be shortened." The remaining Bills were abandoned, and Parliament was prorogued. In the recess, the Cabinet was weakened by the secession of Messrs. Morgan and Colton, and the elevation of the Attorney-General, Mr. S. J. Way — now the Right Hon. Sir Samuel Way, Bart. — to the Supreme Court Bench as Chief Justice in succession to Sir R. D. Hanson, deceased. A coalition was formed, and in May, 1876, the House assembled. In June a vote of want of confidence was recorded, and Mr. Boucaut was relieved of office "partly, as his friends asserted, by backstairs cabals, and partly because he refused to borrow large sums of money without making provision to pay the interest . . . ."