POSITION OF THE PROVINCES.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2681, 20 September 1871, Page 2

POSITION OF THE PROVINCES.

This is the second heading to the section of the Colonial Treasurer’s proposal for retrenchment. We will endeavor in a few words to put the main features of his views before our readers, and, in order to render them clear, shall not encumber them with that which is merely apologetic, rhetorical, or explanatory: rejecting these, he maintains that justice to the Colony requires a reduction in the contribution to the Provinces out of the general revenue, on several grounds : Ist—That the colonising functions which the Provinces should exercise are being undertaken by the General Assembly. That, although the Government were averse to altering the constitution, colonisation being superior in importance to the maintenance of the Provincial system, if the latter interfere with the former, it must give way, 2. The experience .of the effect of the measures of last year proves that legislation, in respect to immigration, requires amendment. 3. That the success of the whole plan of the Government depends upon “tl* encouragement of immigration. 4. That by the measures of last session the Provinces had opportunity of co-operat-ing with the General Government in cor« ducting immigration; but they had not availed themselves of it. This may have b.en because they bad not means at command, probably on account of their heavy existing liabilities, which might lead the Assembly to hesitate before placing the larger means under their control necessary to successful introduction of immigrants. 5. The only alternative was to take all control in the matter from the Provinces, that the General Government might not only assume giving assistance to immigrants, so far as assisting in the cost of passage, but undertake the Provincial duty of seeing to their well-being after arrival. 6. In respect to the financial proposals connected with public works, it would be evident they contained considerable alleviation of the burdens to which Pr, • viuccs would be subjected if they had to carry out the works unaided. 7. Subsidising Road Boards had proved so successful that “ as a matter of investment yielding a direct return,” the subsidies should be continued and increased, Instead of L50,00l) voted last year, ha was about to propose an increase to LI 00,000. He considered this in. umatcly connected with the settlement of the country, and with rendering railways payable. He should recommend that sum to be charged to the Public Works Loan. ‘B. In taking charge of immigration and a portion of the Public Works, the Government would relieve the Provinces of very important functions, which would otherwise have consumed much of the revenue, and it would be unfair to the tax-payers to impose additional taxation to maintain Provincial revenues at their present rate.

In view of these altered relations of the Provinces of the Colony, he proposed—l. To do away with Departmental Provincial Charges and to make them General Govern* ment Charges, excepting such as the present liability of the Provinces to the Colony; their liabilities on consolidated leans; the charge for Provincial Auditors ; and for In* laud Mail Services. 2. Certain special charges are proposed : such as salaries of Goldfields officials to be charged to Goldfields revenue, and expenditure on Native Reserves to the reserves and the expense of Native Courts to the land revenue of the Provinces concerned, with the exception of thg salary of the Judge and his dork. Taking into consideration the saving of Provincial outlay, consequent upon these changes, he proposed reducing the Capitation allov * ance to 15s per head in the Middle Island Provinces. In the North Island on account of the Native population, the allowance to be reduced one half and the special allowance to Westland by one half also This would reduce the Provincial allowances by L 2 5,0001 These changes would operate unequally upon the different Provinces. Otago, Auckland, and Nelson would lose, and Wellington would gain, because of being relieved of the cost of immigration. Auckland would be the largest loser, through not having been in the habit of spending so much on immigration ; but it was a mere financial question between the Provinces and the Government, for the people would derive benefit. In consideration of the heavy loss Auckland would sustain, it was contemplated giving an exceptional allowance of L 2500. Wellington would gain largely, because the heavy Provincial charges consequent upon the General Government and Assembly being there, would be assumed by the General Government. Compared with the year before last, the Provinces would gain L 28.977 by the change, irrespective of expense to be devoted to immigration. The Provinces having constituted Road Boards within themselves, had contracted the sphere of Provincial Councils, and might reduce their machinery, and the Government believed simplicity and economy, without impairing Provincialism, would result from Superintendents being members of Provincial Councils It was proposed therefore they should sit ex officio in the Council, and that the number of members should be very much reduced. When Provinces were unable to fulfil their functions, the General Government should take charge of their affairs. If the Assembly decided to that effect, the Government would leave those r • forms or some of them to the option of existing Superintendents and Councils. Special arrangements would be proposed for the County of Westland