THE BUDGET.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1951, 6 August 1869, Page 2

THE BUDGET.

The following passages from the financial statement, as it appears in Hansard, will be read with interest ;

DUTY OX GRAiX AXD FLOUR.

Without raising the question of protection or free trade at the present time, although the time will come when it will surely be raised, the Government have arrived at the conclusion of ■ ecommending the imposition of a small duty on flour and grain, to continue only whilst the price of these articles does not exceed a maximum to be stated, which maximum will represent the price at which they can be produced in the colony without loss. The fiscal policy of a neighbouring colony, "Victoria, seems to force on us this course. There, irrespective of the ruling pi ice, a duty is levied. In proposing to make the continuance of the duty subject to the market price, we consider we are protecting consumers from the liability to suffer from the tax. The consumer benefits most from a continous steady price. It is invariably the case when thefluctuationsareextremeand constant, that the consumer is made to suffer much

more speedily from an increase in the wholesale price than he is allowed to benefit from a reduction. The farmers, whilst they do not know with what contingencies of fluctuation outside the colony they may have contend, are discouraged from largely extending the growth of cereals; give them greater assurance, and you have the right to expect larger competition. You assure to the producer a steady market, and to the consumer a reasonable security Sgainst sudden and burdensome rises in price. Whatever the individual opinions of some of the members of the Government they do not pretend in this proposal to assert any new abstract doctrine in conflict with doctrines which are elsewhere accepted; they merely contend that, all the ciicumstances of the colony considered, it is expedient this duty should be imposed. It will, be for the House to decide the question. I may add that, by adopting the rates imposed in Victoria, the duty is likely to yield LI 4,000. IMMIGRATION. I feel, Sir, that in dealing with questions which intimately affect the future as well as the present of the Colony, I should ill discharge my duty if I failed to make the House acquainted with the sentiments of the Government on the great question of immigration, We recognise the large effects which in the past have resulted from direct emigration from the Mother Country, and it is certain that in the present comparative cessation of immigration we have cause for much thought, much consideration and regret. But whilst we admit that the subject requires to be dealt with, we do not see our way to deal with it this session. Something more is needed than merely attempting to induce immigrants to come; it is highly desirable to be able to base the inducement on tangible grounds. The great variety of the climate and resources of New Zealand should make it a suitable field for immigration for a vast variety of persons, and we are persuaded that but for the native disturbances New Zealand would be once more a favorite field. But it is idle to suppose that with so many colonies and countries competing for immigrants, something more than merely asking immigrants to come, is not necessary to obtain a number suffi cient to do justice to the progress in colonisation which the country ought to make. A great part of this island yet remains to be colonised; whilst for colonising the last portion of the Middle Island still remaining unsettled, a Bill has been carried through the House this session by the Superintendent of Otago. We have seen in times past what results may spring from a nucleus created by a few score of hardy, energetic, enterprising settlers; and we know that the continued maintenance of immigration has largely contributed to further progress. But the problem is only partly solved. It meets us in this form—What shape should assisted immigration continue to take ? I can only lay down some conditions. Amongst them, first, I would class an exceedingly careful selection of suitable persons. We are here brought to the conclusion that the proposal, which has found favor in some quarter s, of a scheme of immigration conducted by the Imperial and Colonial Governments jointly, is not likely to be successful. The interests of the two Governments are entirely diverse. It is the interest of the Imperial Government to rid the country of the worse part of the population ; it is that of the Colony to obtain the best. Again, we have to consider that assisted immigrants should not find themselves landed on our 1 shores without some one to look to for' guidance and employment, and 1 will go further, and venture to lay down as a principle, that it is exceedingly desirable that the assistance rendered to the immigrant, in respect to his passage or otherwise, should be by him faithfully and rigidly repaid. But it is in the last degree objectiorrable to establish direct relations of a pecuniary character' between the Government and a large body of individuals; it follows that in theory the most desirable system of immigration would be one in which all pecuniary transactions were conducted by some body or association intervening between the Government and the immigrant, but in which, as respects selection or approval, the Government should have much discretion left to it. Now, sir, I will ask the House to accept one more proposition ; that such body or association should be able to base its calculations on a computation that out of a certain number of immigrants so many will be successful, so many, from various causes, the reverse. Here are abstract considerations which still remain to be forged into shape. I lay them before the House that it may be understood on what principle the Government come to the conclusion I am about to announce. That conclusion is, to invite outside, as well as within the Colony, not only every information obtainable, but also a number of specific offers and proposals for carrying out a continued

scheme of immigration, allied with settlement, and of laying them before tli3 Assembly next session, together with carefully prepared recommendations based on them. We make no doubt that within as well as without the Colony persons will be found willing to undertake to form settlements in this island on land which the Crown, without violation of any rights, or without proceeding to any fresh confiscation, will be able to place at their disposal. Such offers have, in more than one instance, been made respecting the Patea district, and proposals of the kind are even now maturing at home. Even the settlers already located in some of the out-districts would find it a benefit to be able te associate together for the purposes of selfdefence, and of framing, within limits, bye-laws to govern and unite them, and to aid the promotion of the industries in which they are engaged. One cannot easily estimate what combined efforts at settlement, such as have proved so successful in the past, may yet do in this island. It need scarcely be said that the duty of self-defence, and the clear exemption of the Government from compensation risks, will have to be the guiding condition of such settlements ; but these are details into which I will not now enter. It must not be supposed that we consider to this island only should national efforts to promote immigration be confined. Much that I have said applies to both islands ; and it is the intention of the Government to propose next year a comprehensive plan which, without violating constitutional conditions, will extend the benefits of regular and systematic immigration to the colony throughout its length and breadth.

A Barber’s Mischiefous Parrot. —At the Greenwich Police Court, recently, Stephen White, apparently much afflicted and somewhat aged, residing at 3, Maria terrace, New Road, Rotherhithc, appeared ■ o a summons charging him with using abuive and threatening language towards Edwin Fox, carrying on a hair-dressing and shaving business in the same neighborhood.—The complainant, who appeared somewhat <xcitcd, said that a few days ago the defendant ame to his shoo to be shaved, anti he had just commenced shaving him when he suddenly moved from his seat. Fetuemberiug that some time ago, when shaving him, he cut him rather severely, in consequence of his not sitting still, ho told the defendant he would be cut again, and shortly afterwards he jumped from his s at, made me of the most threatening language towards him, said he would do all he could to ruin him in his business, and then hurriedly left the shop.

: earing that defendant would carry out his threat s, he had taken the present proceedings. 1 he defendant, in answer to the magistrate, said he had recently uecn suffering from gout and bronchitis, and the present complaint arose out of two parrots kept by the complainant in his shop. (Laughter.)— The Magistrate ? What had the parrots to do with it? —The Defendant: One of them is patticularly irritating and annoying. While being shaved it called out, “Fox, I shall not be able to pay for this shave till Saturday night.” (Hoars of laughter, in which the magist ate joined.) That naturally irritated me, and caused me to move, and when I felt the razor passing ac-oss my flesh irnder the chin, and the parrot called out, “Fox, cut his throat” (renewed laughter;—l naturally felt alarmed, recollecting the previous cut I had, and left the place.— he complainant denied that the parrot was in the shop at the time, and said the defendant’s statement was likely to injure him in his business. —Mr Boustred (chief clerk) asked the complainant if he kept parrots, and whether one of them used such language, as in that case it might be necessary to bind him (complainant) over in sureties for the bird’s future good behaviour. (Loud laughter.) The complainant replied that he had two parrots, but gave no answer is to their linguistic capabilities.—The miistrate said he did not think the complainant had anything to fear from the defendant, and left them to reconcile matters between themselves, the whole coart being convulsed with laughter.