Hawke's Bay Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1867. FINANCIAL REFORM.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 515, 7 October 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1867. FINANCIAL REFORM.

* Nulliue addiciu) jurare in verba magis/ri.

Recently we had occasion to note the formation of a League in the Pro vince of Nelson for the nurnose 01

icHocung, oy means oi popular opinioii. a reform in the financial department of the Government of the Colony'. We were glad to find that a beginning was made in so necessary a work, and we now return to the subject in order to give the Hawke’s Bay public an out line of the principles and proposed perations of the said League, and to do what in us lies to bring about the formation of an auxiliary society in this Province.

From the report given in the Nelson papers, we learn that this co-operation is earnestly desired, and that to the end there may be no obstacle to such co-operation, the objects of the League should be confined exclusively to the effecting of the proposed financial reform, aud which is of universal in terest, carefully avoiding all merely local or Provincial objects, so as Lensure the aid of all who have a regarti fur the welfare of the Colony. The three following, then, are stated to be the objects of the League : (1.) A reduction of the Customs duties. (2.) A mode of raising the necessary revenue, which shall be less burdensome to the industry, commerce, aud enterprise of the Colony. (3.) Retrenchment in the public expenditure.

Special provision has been made in the constitution of the League for tlx working together with similar, or auxiliary associations throughout tin Colony, and, with this end, the following code of rules have been, aftei due deliberation, adopted :

1. The object of the League shall be to collect and diffuse accurate iulbrmation respecting the finances of the Colony : to promote all wellconsidered improvements in the mode of raising the public revenue; and to enforce, by all constitutional means, the practice of economy in the public service without detriment to its efficiency,

2. In the event of similar associations being instituted in other parts of the Colony for the attainment of the same objects, the committee shall be empowered to effect a uuion with snch associations in any manner that may be agreed upon, and to adapt the name of this League to such alteration of circumstances in any way that may be expedient. 3. Every subscriber of one shilling or upwards shall be admitted as a member for the current year.

4. The business of the League shall be conducted by a committee, consisting of a President, Vice-president, Treasurer, Secretary, and not less than ton, or more than seventeen other members, all of whom shall be elected annually by the subscribers ; but vacancies occurring during the year may be filled up by the committee.

5. Besides an annual meeting, the subscribers shall be called together from time to time by the committee as occasion may arise ; and it shall be competent for any twenty subscribers to summon a meeting of the whole at any time on giving a clear week’s notice in the public papers. 6. In order to secure the adherence of the public at large for the common object of effecting a reform in thefinancial system of New Zealand, it shall be a standing instruction to the committee to avoid all proceedings partaking of a merely local or party character,

After the uniform advocacy of the principles enunciated l»y the Nelson League, which our readers .will hate observed in our columns, we need scarcely say that the Financial He form League has our warmest sym pathy.

We were glad to find that at tin meeting referred to, the association was actually brought into existence by the enrolment of the names of sixty individuals as members, and the elec tioa of a Pre° : - , e" f r*n., klwu «• + **-aiuwui UU)>Pi IIJICUUC'II i of the Province), a Vice-President, ami a Committee. We wish them all sue cess in their laudable undertaking, aud would say to our fellow settlers in thi.town and Province, go and do like wise, We think that the following considerations which we append will show sufficient cause for the work: —

(17) Every mau, viuiuan, ami cliikl, are taxed at the ra'e of .£6 per aimum. Every family, from £ls to £SO, or eveu more, accordiug These taxes are so arranged by the iniquitous tariff, to press eveu sore heavily on the poor man than on the weai'-hy ; the coarse and bulky articles used by the poor, being taxed bulk for bulk the same as the finer, more costly and las.log articles used by the rich. (3 ) This heavy tax of nearly 2s. 6.1 per week on each man, worn in. and child, does not represent, to any means, the whole sum paid by each, but Oily that po!in; which actually reaches the G - veniiuent, the sums actually paid inclu ling a multiplicity of charges which, cannot Will he e-timated, but including, amongst othei things, interest on capital, the risk it sustains, &c., which merchants and dealers wholesale and retail—uu>t, of necessity charge to the c tisuiner on the amount paid in taxes, as well as on the prime cost of goods, ami w>tch, it is believed, newly oi q die doubles the burd:.i to tin tax-pay"r. (4 ) The tariff .system is, of all sys '■ ms, of raising a revenue, most »x'rav.,g.>iit and expensive, the actual C"s; of cub ctmg the uu’ics ranging from five per cent, (the lowest) to, in some cases, as sh wn by a Parliamentary return, to many times the amount col lected ; one special case is given where it cost at the rate o! £2,770 11s. 9d. to collect £IOO

The above considerations, amongst u uy others tlmt could he mooted, sufficiently shows reason for the establishment of associations for effecting financial reform—a reform that will h, granted as soon as the demand is fairly made by the people, but which Urns, who benefit by things as tluy are, will not grant till such demand he made