MORE BORROWING.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 106, 1 November 1893, Page 2

MORE BORROWING.

Lands, say they will not borrow, yet each implies that the Ministry intend, if returned to power, to take the position of money-lenders to farmers such money to be obtained in England. Whatever forms of words may be used money raised in such a way con only be added to the debt of the colony, and therefore an additional burden on those who pay taxes through the Custom house. We have not the slightest objection to farmers getting cheaper money, but we contend it is unjust to provide them with it at the expense of the colony at large.

It is a remarkable fact that while the members of the present Ministry pretend to be such deadly enemies to borrowing most of their suggestions in the direction of progress or reform are tainted with the flavor of it. For instance the Premier in a forecast of his speech to be delivered at New Plymouth indicated that the question would be considered of advances to Crown tenants from funds in the hands of Government departments, and furnishing English capital to farmers through the agency of the Government without the assistance of middlemen. If this does not mean indirect borrowing under State guarantee, we can find no other interpretation. While they profess to condemn the "middlemen" they have no objection to take his place. The Minister of Lands, in his speech at Nasebv, published in another column, said that if the people wanted reduced taxation they (the Government) would have to borrow, although they did not think that desirable, but he also said that the Government Mere determined to deal with the question of cheaper money for fanners. Both of them, the Premier aud the Minister of