The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1888. ANOTHER SUFFERER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1991, 19 November 1888, Page 2

The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1888. ANOTHER SUFFERER.

It is often represented that Now Zea land is tho most heavily indobted country on tho face of tho globe, and generally speaking those who make tho assertion arc careful to keep out of sight, tho fact that a large part of our debt has been incurred m tho carrying out of large publio works, such as railways and telegraphs which are a tangible and valuable assert and which already contribute largely towards tho general revenue. Wo owe quite enough m all conscience but it is not true that relatively to our resources we aro tho hoavießt burdened people m the world. Take for example France, Tho public debt of that country is variously estimated at from £1,250,000,000 to £1,300,000,000 the annual charge on which amounts to no loss a sum than £51,600,000. This is by far tho heaviest debt of any nation ; that of Eussia, stated at £721,000,000, coming next, and England third with £713,000,000. Austria's debt is £370,000,000 boaides £127,000,000 owed by Hungary, while that of Irfpain m round numbers amounts to £241,000,000, and that of Prussia to £200,000,000. Tho dubt of Franco with her thirty-eighty million of population is equal to a capital sum of nearly £38 10s for every man, woman and child, and tho annual charge upon each is a fraction over 275. As compared with tho average oarnings of tho people this is a heavier burden than that of Now Zealand colonists, and when wo are inclined to grumble at our position, it is ub well to take what comfort we may out of tho fact that there aro others m worse cane than ourselves.