The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1884.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4138, 27 October 1884, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1884.

Tiie Public Works Statement, to which the country has been looking forward so anxiously, was delivered on Friday night. As the Hon. Mr Richardson said, the Statement has been for the most part anticipated by the policy measures.of the Government. The colony is, however, indebted to the change of Ministry for two items of information which otherwise would not have been brought to light. One piece of news is—that the reductions that were supposed to have been made in the Public Works Department in 18Sl-B'2 were more nominal than real, the officers, whose names disappeared from the permanent list, being otherwise provided for. The other item of information is that the condition and management'of the , railways are in a very unsatisfactory state. Under the Atkinson administration it is not likely that either admission would have been made. In referring- to- the Napier- Woodville line, the Minister for Public Works made another admission, which was—that in opening the line for traffic to Matamau a great convenience had been conferred on the travelling public. It will be remembered that it was with the very greatest difficulty that tho late Government were induced to concede this boon. Every official obstacle waa placed in the way of opening this short extension of four miles, and for a considerable time it was doubtful whether the public would be allowed the use. of it. Without casting any reflections on the General Manager of Railways, the colony will heartily endorse the opinion of the Minister for Public Works that in any other country but New Zealand it would be thought absurd to leave to one man the virtually irresponsible control and management of our wholo railway system. In the short time that the present Government have been in office, we are assured by tho Hon. Mr Richardson ample proof has been afforded of the need of change, and that that change cannot be made too soon. Unfortunately the lateness of the season will not allow the Government to bring down measures having for their object si radical alteration of the system of management, but those measures are promised for next session. The alterations suggested'arc the establishment of Boards which having local knowledge, will certainly be in a better position to manage the railways than an irresponsible manager sitting at Wellington. There is another feature in the Statement that attracts attention, and it is the absence of a " fire-works : * policy. It was thought that on the return of Kir Julius Vogel to power there would be- a revival of the "borrow and squander" policy that was inaugurated in 1871, but the aim of the Statement was to show that nothing of the kind need be feared. The public works are to be pursued gradually in accordance.with. the means of the colony —as a work that will " last our lives, .and tho lives of our children and children's children." The object, we are told, after this year will be to bring the expenditure charged on the consolidated fund within the means of that fund without the; aid of the property tax. The following: paragraph in the Statement discloses the proposals of the Government in the matter of abolishing this tax:—"We foresee that that can easily be done by shifting to, local expenditure some of the present charges made on the consolidated fund, notably the charit" able expenditure arid some other small item? let us say amounting, >vith the charitable aid, to some £100,000 a year. : It is clear that the local bodies cannot undertake this without an additional revenue, and to digpense with needless points of controversy Tit present, we may suppose that the £100,000 is supplied by either a property tax or a land tax. But other reveuue will also have to be supplied to local bodies, as it cannot be satisfactory to continue for a lengthened period the policy of making and maintaining roads and bridges out of borrowed-money, which has been virtually what has been going on for some time. The borrowing for roads and bridges cannot be abruptly brou 'ht to a conclusion, but its cessation must be an. end kept in view." Mr. Richardson hopes to make £100,000 a year by, first, the natural increase of revenue; secondly, by the increase of railway revenue; and thirdly, by saving in interest by conversion of the loans. On the strength of this the Government ask for authority to:borrow a'million arid a half sterling. This sum, added to unexpended balances, will give £3,377,912 available for expenditure from April last in payment of liabilities, and for the construction of • new works. The 'Statement will: undoubtedly make a good impression on the couritrj', and followed up as it was by the Premier saying that it' contained nothing but what" the Government intended to, carry out, we think it will place the Ministry firmly ;on their seats till the.whole of their policy has been carried out. ;"'; ' '

DxmiSG Mr T. Tanner's candidature at tho last general elections, a good deal of fun was .'ittcmplcd to be made on his viewn respecting taxation. It will bo seen, howovor, that Mr Macandrew holds precisely the sumo views for ho has given notice .to move " That, in view of tho steps which aro to ho taken during the recess towards submitting to thi.-s House, at its next session, proposals for securing local self-govern-ment, this House is of opinion, (1) That no proposals for local government can bo efficient in themselves or satisfactory to. tho country which do not provide ' that iho people 'shall be relieved of all taxation at the hands of this House, other than such as may bo necessary to'cover the interest on tho colonial debt, the cost of defence (other than local police), of the Supreme Court, telegraph, post office, immigration, ocean lighthouses, and legislative departments. (2.) That all other matters affecting peace, order, and good government, inclusive of the construction and working- of railways, shall be placed under the absolute control of local governing bodies ; and that to enable such bodies to perform .their functions, they should have the -whole of the railway revenue-and land fund arising within their respective territories, and also should possess such powers.of legislation, as shall enable i

them to raiso the necessary funds in such manner and from such sources as thoy shall see fifcj and.also to provide for. the prbjper local government-,of• their respective districts. '' The second division of the motion goes much further than what Mr Tanner advocated, for it is nothing less than a proposal to return to provincialism pure and simple. Considering tho wretched administration that has distinguished centralism, together with its costly and generally inefficient departments, a return to .jjrovincialism might be the very best stop that could be taken. .