Chapter 116: Repairing the North Island Railway
"In the next two years, the most important plan for the Unionist Party is to increase New Zealanders' recognition of the party and their support for uniting with Australia. I hope to receive a detailed report on the Unionist Party's actions periodically, and I will strongly support your efforts," Arthur said, glancing at Grant with a hint of meaning in his words.
"I understand, Your Highness. The union between Australia and New Zealand has always been the Unionist Party's goal. We will do our best to gain the support of more New Zealanders for the union between New Zealand and Australia. I believe that a nation formed by the union of New Zealand and Australia will be stronger, and this will be a choice that New Zealanders and Australians will never regret," Grant Wilson quickly nodded and said, offering his assurance.
Grant Wilson moved quickly, and by the next day, Unionist Party members were already seen on the streets of Wellington, promoting their party's ideas. Slogans about uniting with Australia and jointly building a prosperous Oceania appeared everywhere.
Although the New Zealand colonial government had some restrictions on political parties, under Arthur's suggestion, the government did not resist this time and allowed the Unionist Party to act freely.
However, to the public, the government's lack of opposition was essentially an endorsement.
Without the government's opposition, more people joined the Unionist Party, and even some former Labour Party members, after some hesitation, chose to leave the Labour Party and join the Unionist Party instead.
Arthur's covert support, combined with the colonial government's inaction, meant the Unionist Party's momentum was unstoppable. Within just one week, the Unionist Party expanded to over two hundred members and successfully extended its influence to major cities on the North Island of New Zealand.
Conservatively, the Unionist Party could attract thousands of new members within two years, and these members would play a crucial role in guiding the cities of New Zealand.
To Arthur, the Unionist Party was a powerful tool for the annexation of New Zealand. The larger the Unionist Party grew, the faster the annexation of New Zealand would proceed.
This is why Arthur supported the Unionist Party and why the colonial government remained passive.
In the absence of British involvement, Arthur was the highest authority in New Zealand, and no one could challenge that.
Even one of New Zealand's top leaders, General Pierce Anthony, the commander of the New Zealand military, had no chance of victory when facing Arthur.
Although the Unionist Party's momentum in New Zealand was unstoppable, Arthur could not remain in New Zealand indefinitely.
However, Arthur was not worried that the Unionist Party's growth would ever exceed his control. New Zealand was not like those European liberal countries—New Zealand's freedom was only granted by Arthur's permission.
Even if the Unionist Party had ten years to develop, there was no chance it would ever surpass Arthur's control.
Under New Zealand's status as a self-governing colony, the Unionist Party's greatest power was still limited to holding most of the seats in the Political Council.
And the council's power was granted by Arthur and could be revoked at any time.
Without power, the Unionist Party would never be able to break free from Arthur's control, especially since its leader, Grant Wilson, was firmly under Arthur's influence.
Allowing the Unionist Party to continue growing freely, Arthur, accompanied by the colonial government officials, inspected the various facilities across the North Island of New Zealand. This included previously established factories, railways, roads, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, all within the scope of his inspection.
Since Arthur was in New Zealand, he planned to leave behind a series of development plans for the government before departing.
At the very least, during the period Arthur was absent, the New Zealand government would have something to do, and the people of New Zealand would feel Arthur's presence.
Repairing the previously constructed railways and roads and supporting the previously built hospitals and schools were excellent plans.
These facilities had already been built in New Zealand, so whether repairing and renovating them or investing in them for further support, it would require minimal funding to get them back in use.
This approach would not only allow New Zealanders to see changes quickly and stimulate the economy's rapid recovery, but it would also save a lot of money—truly a win-win situation.
Arthur's first stop for inspection was the railway built in New Zealand. Railways were crucial for a country's development as they were not only one of the main tools for transportation but also an important means of population movement.
Thanks to New Zealand's good previous development, there were currently two railways, one on the North Island and one on the South Island, with a total length of about three hundred kilometers.
The longest railway ran through the North Island, connecting Wellington in the south, the gold mining region in the west, and the Bay in the north. It almost became a circular railway on the North Island.
This railway was vital for economic exchange on the North Island, but due to New Zealand's previous economic downturn, a significant portion of the railway had fallen into disrepair, and much of the track was no longer operational.
For Arthur and the colonial government, the most important task was to restore the railway's operation.
Most of New Zealand's population lived on the North Island, and it was the economic and political center of New Zealand.
If the North Island's railway could be restored, it would mark a significant step in New Zealand's economic recovery.
Fortunately, the railway had been constructed just over thirty years ago, so most of it could be quickly repaired and put back into use. The remaining sections only needed some parts replaced or the tracks re-laid.
According to the colonial government's estimates, repairing all the railways on the North Island would cost less than two hundred thousand pounds and require one thousand workers.
Given that most New Zealanders hoped for the economy to recover, gathering one thousand workers was not a difficult task.
Arthur did not hesitate and immediately withdrew two hundred thousand pounds from the colonial government's funds for the railway repairs on the North Island.
This money was actually part of the two million pounds Arthur had allocated to the New Zealand government as a gift in his capacity as the Duke of Australia.
By now, the total funds available to the New Zealand government did not exceed three million pounds, which explained why the colonial government officials were so reluctant when Arthur used two hundred thousand pounds.
(End of Chapter)
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