The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2966, 21 August 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1872.

We do not recollect an instance on record, when in the face of a motion expressing want of confidence in a Ministry, the financial statement of a Government was made. The usual course is that such a motion shall be disposed of before any further business is proceeded with. The Colonial Treasurer has, however, acted differently and we think he has done right. Whatever may be the result of Mr Stafford’s motion, should he still press it, the advantage ground of mystery is taken away from him. We have been treated with election speeches from opponents to the Ministry, telling of the complete disorganisation of every department, and, with articles in Opposition journals, containing doleful predictions of the prospects of the future. According to them nothing was going right. We have been gravely told that the signs of prosperity around us were fictitious, and would soon pass away, and that there had been such extravagance and waste that the revenue would be deficient. Further loans to meet deficiencies were talked about, and according to these bilious writers and speakers, the Colony was drifting headlong to ruin. But what is the fact ? Instead of increasing the amount of debt —for W6 make a distinction between money borrowed for paying off deficiencies, and money borrowed for reproductive investments — After paying the Deficiency Bills, after providing for the expenditure unauthorised of last year, after providing for the full expenditure of the year, after providin'? for the Reserve Fund, and for all the liabilities and engagements known to the Treasury—a'ter having, in fact, provided for interest and sinking fund due in London up to the loth of July, or fifteen days beyond the close of the financial year, there still remains a balance of LI 0,500 with which to commence the year 1872-73. So fain s Mr Vogel’s statement is concerned there was little in it laying it open to adverse comment. It was a bare statement of facts and figures ; but a very useful one. It has been the fashion in many quarters to represent New Zealand as the most heavily taxed nation upon earth ; but, from the form in which the comparison is made by the Treasurer, it would appear to be more lightly taxed in proportion to the results of labor than most others. This is not the first time that it has been shewn by comparison that the productive power of the country in proportion to the population is largely in excess of any other country with, perhaps, the exception of the United States, It must be remembered, too, that in drawing these comparisons they arc made with communities having every modern facility for cheapening the cost of production; while New Zealand is only beginning to provide such appliances. If then, with comparatively rude means of internal transit, and with only rudimentary machinery, so much is done, what may be expected to result when appliances for cheapening production arc added ? The Treasurer proposes no new schemes. He appears content to allow those already devised to work out their natural results. He did not provoke hostility by drawing comparisons between the state and prospects of the Colony, when Mr Stafford retired from office and its present condition. Ho seems to have been content to lay before the House such a statement as should justify its continued support. He points out that the country can hear the taxation that is imposed upon it, that certain taxes can be re-

mitted that act unfavorably, and then he leaves it to the House to say whether in the face of the success that has attended their administration since they took office, the Ministry were to retire and resign the reins of government to those whose errors they were commissioned to correct. Mr Stafford’s generally successful cry has been reduction of expenditure. It was with this view that he was entrusted with the Premiership which ended so disastrously for himself. He cannot avail himself of the plea that he had on that occasion, that the deficiency of the revenue rendered a change of administration necessary. The style in which he then went to work to save, should lead to hesitation in trusting him again. He did cut down expenses until departments became inefficient, and the consequence was disorganisation, contusion, and war. He will have a difficult task to satisfy the country that the administration of affairs will be better carried on by men who have shewn how not to succeed, than by those who have shewn how to succeed. If therefore the House affirms the resolution of which he has given notice, it will be more on personal than financial grounds ; and we doubt very much whether the country will be satisfied to make a change on such considerations. Able men are needed at the head of affairs, and to transfer power from the competent to the incompetent is to invite ruin and disaster.