The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1876.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 643, 11 July 1876, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1876.

discussing the financial proposals of the Government, a large amount of ignorance—in some cases we are afraid intentional, is displayed regarding the mode of dealing with the land fund of the provinces. The Government measures are characterised as an attempt to confiscate that fund for the purposes of the colony. Now, what do those proposals really amount to ? In the first place, the land fund of each provincial district is to be charged with a certain per ceutage of the cost of the railways constructed within their boundaries. The contribution is as follows :—Tor the first three years, two per cent; for the next three years, one and three-quarters per cent j and

for the next three, one and a-half per 1 cent on the total expenditure of railways within such district. A certain proportion of the cost of education within their boundaries is also to be borne by the land fund. When this is deducted, and the interest on provincial loans as well, the balance is to bo handed over to the local bodies Now, we ask, -what is there really new in all this. Our provineialist friends must surely be aware of the existance of the Immigration and Public Works Act, under which the cost of the construction of all railways in each province is to be charged against the land fund of that province, and in the event of that fund not being sufficient to meet such charges the same shall be met and recouped to the colony out of moneys to be raised by direct taxation within such province or district. This Act has been in operation since 1871. Under it the Colonial Government has ever since been charging the provinces with the interest on the railways constructed within their boundaries. Those who are fighting the battle of the Provincialists cannot be ignorant of these facts. But they have been carefully ignored. The financial statement of the Colonial Treasurer, we are informed, makes plain the intention of the Colonial Government to lay hands on the land revenue; it is to be placed “to the credit of the general “ revenue of the colony, and is to be “ used to diminish in various ways the “ expenditure to which the colony has “ pledged itself in connection with the “ policy of Abolition.” Our contentporary will be surprised to learn that the laud fund has been pledged long ago. The Immigration and Public Works policy, of which he was at one time so warm and enthusiastic a supporter, placed it as completely at the disposal of the Colonial Government, as their present proposals do. Nor will the further charge against the scheme of Government bear examination. The fact, that in those parts of the colony which have no land fund, the charges we have referred to will have to be borne by the consolidated revenue under the pretext of advances, without interest, against future land fund, is quoted as an instance of what Abolition will produce. But we will be no worse off then than Are not the poor provinces kept going at the present time by advances from time to time from the consolidated revenue ? Has not Abolition been forced on the colony by continued onslaughts on the colonial purse ? Whether, therefore, Provincialism continues or not, the poorer districts of the colony will have to be maintained, and it is surely better, that the Colonial Government should have some voice in the expenditure of the money, than that it should be administered by bodies irresponsible to the Parliament which has raised it.