The Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2682, 21 September 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1871.

The full report of the Treasurer’s Financial Statement, received by last mail from the North, fully bears out our first impression that though not so carefully elaborated as the speech of last year, it is statesmanlike and patriotic. There runs throughout a clear perception of principles, and these are enunciated so simply as to carry conviction to every candid mind, that the man who based his plans upon them is thoroughly in earnest, and believes that they will be for the benefit of the Colony. There is no attempt at glossing over errors of calculation. The true reason of the commercial depression of the last few years, which is so easily traceable, is not dwelt upon. Mr Vogel had other work before him ; he had to unravel his plan for remodelling the legislative and administrative machinery of the Colony, and to convince the House of the justice and necessity of the measures proposed. He knew there were men who were unreasoning personal enemies— who went from their constituencies predetermined to vote against whatever measures he might propose, but he rose superior to party, and in spite of the carping and quibbling of correspondents and journals that place personal and party considerations above the public good, we feel convinced that the more Mr Vogel’s plans are considered the more they will be approved. We do not say that we agree with all that he proposes; there are certain views held by the Treasurer respecting import duties that we consider contrary to sound principles ; ’but as applied to New Zealand they are absolutely innocuous, and though passed into law will be virtually a dead letter—so that they are not worth serious contention. Examined critically, it will be found that the plan now proposed seems naturally to flow from the measures of last session. So completely dees it dovetail with what was then done, that it looks as if there were no afterthought in it, excepting that here and there are admissions that corrections have been found necessary. There is no doing and undoing—no opening up a scheme, and then abandoning it because ill considered and badly executed. There is a perception of means to an end. The law of development is clearly perceptible. A move was made last year based upon a comprehensive view of the constitution and mode of settlement of the Colony, and that which is now proposed seems to be the best means of carrying it to a successful end. There is throughout a striking contrast to the conduct of our Provincial Parliament. Our Colonial finances are deranged through deficient revenue. A Graham Berry or a Victorian Francis would have tried his hand at a new duty. Mr Vogel says the tariff is already too heavy ; we must retrench. The Provinces cannot expect to be relieved from the cost of making the best roads, and to have as much returned out of the general revenue to spend after their own fashion as before. He says truly that those works that we propose to do will enable us to maintain a far larger population than can now thrive upon the soil. By the introduction of a number of immigrants, the present inhabitants of the Colony will be equally benetitted with those who come fresh amongst us, and taxation will be lightened because borne by numbers instead of by a few. There is no need to say that the Provinces have not given even intelligent attention to immigration. There has been too great an anxiety to spend Provincial revenue for the improvement of the property of the settlers, and too little to bring people into the country to settle upon the land. Perhaps, on the whole, Otago has as nearly fulfilled its duty in bringing people to it as any province, but its arrangements have been crude and pretty considerably selfish. Men and women with their families have been tumbled on to the shore without any well devised plan of providing immediate remunerative employment for them. The care has been to bring them here—yet, strangers though they be, no further care nor kindness has been shown them, until forced occasionally by pressure of public opinion. Very quietly this cruelty met reproof from the Treasurer in proposing to remit certain powers to a Board, when he said;— It will be the duty of the Board to take charge of the construction of Public Works ; and especially it will be their duty—and one to which we hope they will devote a large share of attention—to carry out, on as comprehensive a scale as they may conceive to be desirable, a system of Immigration, combined with proper attention to the settlement and employment of the immigrants. The proposal to establish this Board is a strong proof how earnestly the

Government desire the success of their measures. It is to be a guarantee of continuity—to relieve the legislature from the log-rolling tendencies of the members for different Provinces. It is equal to saying the ministry is well aware that a cabal, or an outburst of popular political superstition may unseat us, but as continuity through a series of years is necesssary to the success of our measures, they must be divested as far as possible of all political bias. The interests involved are too vast in their bearing on the present, and too important in regard to the future, to be at the mercy of Reids, or Shepherds, or Bathgates, or any of the popularity hunting-tribe, who look more to what they proclaim their duty to their constituents than to the welfare of the Colony as a whole, Nor must it be forgotten that in thus proposing to divest themselves of being the arbiters of where and how public works are to be carried out by the appointment of a comparatively irresponsible Board, the Ministry virtually abandon one means of securing to themselves the support of hungry provinces. The patronage consequent upon the necessary appointments must pass from them to a greater or less degree. As the Assembly holds the purse strings, whatever works are projected must merit its approval; but we trust that in New Zealand the time will never again return when a Minister has it in his power to buy en masse the votes of the members of a Province, as was done on one memorable ccsion before the present Ministry took office.