OUR STATISTICS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3837, 2 November 1883, Page 3

OUR STATISTICS.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Sir,—lf I understand Mr Ryan's letter correctly ho thinks that if Mr Haytcr's calculations are wrong it is so much the worse for New Zealand. Mr Haytcr's figures as regards New Zealand are probably as correct as they arc in reference to Victoria and New South Wales. As a calculation they are no doubt correct, but I have reason to believe that the figures supplied to Mr Hayter in Melbourne aro even more incorrect "than those supplied in New Zealand. What. I argued was—First, that they were incorrect: second, that if correct they wero misleading, as they formed only one part of a calculation, and standing alono proved nothing. I certainly did not advocate any increase of taxation. I expressed no opinion upon that part of tho question, but I am free to admit that if pressure is continued for larger expenditure it can only be met by increasing the burdens upon the people in somo way. Mr Ryan asks, does he propose to sell the assets to pay the working expenses of the colony ? To that I would reply this": any mercantile firm or financial establishment, in making out its balancesheet, always puts its liabilities on one side (in tho caso of New Zealand this may represent her public debt), and its assets on the other, not necessarily for tho purpose of selling these assets. Surely then tho colony is entitled to set against its debt in the calculation tho railways, which havo cost £12,000,000, the telegraph line, and the unsold lands, which have been paid for, and are surely an asset. These lands are valued at, I think, about £10,000,000. What comparison could reasonably bo made of the position of this colony and the Australian colonies ? Did they buy their land, or did they assume possession ? Australia has not had to deal with the native owners of the soil for the purchase of the land, neither has Victoria or New South Wales found it ncccssaryto engage in expensive and protracted native wars. I do not suppose it is likely that we shall have to sell all our assets to pay our debts, but it is somewhat assuring to find that wo have assets. But, I would ask, what could be shown by the English Government to meet its National Debt of, I think, about £800,000,000? Probably the only available assets would be her ships of war and material of that kind. There arc, I think, no Crown lands of any size in England; the railways are not public property. Docs any one believe for a moment that these bonds arc doubtful because there is no visible security ? While we sec English Government three per cent, quoted at over par, it is certain that tho monied classes think the securities good without asking Jiny questions as to tho ability of the Governmcnment to liquidate tho debt. Undoubtedly New Zealand is the most heavily indebted of any of tho Australian colonies, but that docs not prove her financial unsoundness. Her indebtedness has increased very much within the last fifteen years, but her capabilities to meet that debt have increased very fast, and aro still increasing, and as our securities arc now standing as high in tho London market as they have ever stood it seems pretty evident that the confidence of investors at home.is unshaken. If I understand public feeling aright there is no wish that the Government should stop improvements ; there is no wish to delay the completion of our main lines of railway, and I. think it must bo admitted that if these expensive and as I think necessary works, are gone on with, the public debt must increase. The real remedy is, I think, such an alteration in the incidence of taxation as will make those who receive a direct benefit from this expenditure pay more towards it than they do at present, and a corresponding reduction in the burdens upon that large class who do not receive benefit from it. Mr Ryan is, I see, laboring under tho popular delusion (as far as Hawke's Bay is concerned) that Taranaki is a very favored country, as far as public expenditure goes. I really do not know where this delusion comes from. Some years since it was tho fashion in Wellington to speak of Hawke's Bay as the Little Benjamin of New Zealand. The only reason I could learn for this character was that at that time two members from this district were in the Ministry, and tho report was circulated by their opponents. Probably the fact that tho Premier represents a Taranaki constituency is considered quite enough around for stating that every expenditure that is wanted there is granted. I think it will bo admitted that I should probably know if such lavish expenditure were going

on. It is proposed this year to spend on the railway from Foxton to Taranaki £84,000, and on the line from Napier to Wellington via Woodvillo £115,000. do not fitid any sums upon the estimates which support the sneer at Taranaki. I still think that it would bo advisable that statistics should be accurate, and that they should be prepared in such a form as to be of some value. I will give you an instance of how some of these statistics are obtained. Somo years since I saw a Government officer getting replies to a circular as to retail prices°in Napier, and something like this took place: — Government officer : "What is the price of brandy?"—" What do you mean? Brandy in bond, duty paid, or what; is it ca.sk brandy or case, pale or dark; Martell's, Hennessey's, or what brand do you mean ; tho price per case, per gallon, a single case, or twenty cases ?" G.O. : "I. really don't know "—" Well, say 30s per gallon." G. 0.: "What is the price of sugar?" "Is it crushed loaf, white crystals, yellow,_ or brown ; is it by the ton or by the bag ; is it in bond or duty paid?" G.O. :" I cannot say. lam only asked to state the price of siurar".—" Well, you had better say Gd".—The list comprised a great many articles, and the prices were nil affixed in tliat way. Having witnessed the conversation between the Government _ officer and my friend, I enquired what this was wanted for, and was informed that it was usual to make this return annually for statistical purposes '. That precious paper was in duo course embodied among the public records of the colony, and forms part of the published statistics of tho year. lou would probably consider that return was useless.—l am, &cc, F. Sutton. November 1, ISS3.