The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2238, 9 July 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1870.

The sixth part of Mr Vogel’s Immigration and Public Works Bill is specially interesting to us in the Middle Island, on account of regulating the powers it confers on the Government to construct roads in the North Island. No one who has made himself acquainted with the operations against the Natives during the last seven years, can arrive at any other conclusion than that they would have been much shortened and more effectual had the country boon opened up. The first part of the Act empowers the expenditure of .£400,000 on this object, to be limited to the sum of £IOO,OOO a-year. The sixth merely regulates the manner in which the various necessary steps are to be taken. It is almost useless even to give a description of its details, for they are merely reprints of those common in Road Acts. They provide that notice shall be given, objections may by made?

fences removed or put up according to circumstances : gardens, orchards, vineyards, nurseries of trees, or ornamental grounds, not to be touched without the owner’s consent; roads may be diverted, tolls imposed, drains constructed, compensation. given, regulations made; penalties for offences such as fraudulent claims of exemptions from toll or evasion of tolls may be awarded. We have before expressed an opinion as to the large sum proposed to be expended on the North Island in proportion to the share of the revenue contributed. We feel surprised that this is not more strenuously resisted than seems likely to be the case. We are quite willing to admit that as it is proposed to spend an equal sura on the Middle Island, to that extent the scheme differs very much in our favor from that of any Ministry that has preceded tue present for many years. But this does not place the islands on an equality, nor render it less true that the revenue is mainly devoted to North Island purposes. During the past year £350.000 in round numbers have been expended on what are euphoniously called “ De- “ fence purposes.” This is purely a North Island charge, and has been paid, so far as it has been paid, in a very undue proportion by the Middle Island that is in no danger, and that has no interest in it. How is it that not a voice is raised against this injustice ? How is it that if the Middle Island requires a railway, the greatest difficulty is experienced in getting an Act passed, and the most rigid scrutiny is exercised that not one sixpence is expended that is not secured! Yet in •the most lavish manner the share it has contributed to the revenue _is being expended for the exclusive benefit of the Northern squatters. It would have beeu much wiser and more equitable to have proposed to secure the repayment of the defence expenditure by the North Island. If this was done, and the Middle Island had the full benefit of its own revenues, less a fair proportion for federal charges, it would be cheap to let the North Island have the use of the extra £IOO,OOO, so long as those who got the profit paid the interest. There seems reason to think, if this fair and equitable plan wore adopted of making the North Island responsible for defence expenditure, it would not be violently resisted by the Government, otherwise the Treasurer could have had no object in quoting the bon. the Premier’s remarks on 11 the partnership,” as it is termed. They are so pertinent to the point under consideration that they will bear repetition : > The first reason I have tabled for my motion of want of confidence relates to the dissolution of financial partnership between the General and Provincial Governments. I concur in that proposal—l. Because it gives the only prospect of reducing taxation. —2. Because it prevents complication of accounts and endless disputes.—3. Because the Pro viuces will know what their means really are .—4. Becanse it will prevent falsification of accounts by the General Government, and tha consequent squabbles arising thereout. But it should .not bo carried opt on any principle which should tend to destroy the feeling of individual responsibility on tho part of the Provinces, or create a desire on the part of those which have borrowed little, to go on borrowing wildly, merely to be on a footing of equality with the others.