Hawke's Bay Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1868. MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 583, 4 June 1868, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times.

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1868. MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

.V./ '-Vcs a.Uir/tis jurare in vcrUi innfjlslri.

Tm-t most important portions of the address delivered before the Provincial Council on its opening qii Tuesday last are those which relate to the failing revenues of the Province, owing to the general depression of the times, and, to the diliiculty of the situation on account of the unsettled state of the relations, financial or otherwise, which exist between the General Government aud those of the several Provinces. It is conceived that changes of an important character are imminent in the nature of these relations, and that, pending these changes, it would be unwise to introduce schemes of taxation, or otherwise disturb existing arrangements, until the action of the General Assembly is known. By the last General Assembly it was decided that one half of the consolidated revenue of the Colony should be retained bv the Provinces instead of the threeeighths which they had up to that time retained for Provincial Government purposes; bnt as a counterpoise to

such liberality the Provincial Governments were to defray tire costs of the local departments of the General Go-i vernment, such as hospitals, jails, j harbors, and police. It has been ;found, however, practically uuwork- ! able, as the cost of these departmental ■ services has amounted to a larger sum itban the half of the consolidated revenues which should provide for them, and the deficiency is constantly becoming greater —so inch so that probably not one of the Provinces would be able to hold out against the difficulty. It is now proposed by some that the General Government should take over all the consolidated revenues, and provide for its own departments throiigiiout the Colony, leaving the Provinces to raise in their own tray

the revenues necessary for the Provincial service ; in other words, that the revenues should be expended by the power that levies them. Some such scheme will, almost without doubt, he brought into operation ; and it behoves the people to be prepared for such a change. There are. doubtless, difficulties to be surmounted, and the unpleasant principle of locai taxation will be brought to| bear forcibly upon the community. But it is quite possible that the total of fiscal burden borne by each individual of the community may be made lighter by the proposed changes. A vast reduction in the staff of Provincial officials will be made, and though some of them will merely change masters —for the local departments of the General Government (harbors, jails, police, &c.) must be maintained by one or the other Government —the throwing of the Provincial Governments upon their own resources will necessitate a greater exercise of economy than has ever yet obtained. A more pleasing feature of his Honor’s address relates to the marked progress made in the Province during the past three years, as shewn by the census returns of the General Government, —the fenced lands having nearly quadrupled, the lands in English grasses increased by nearly 50 per cent., the population by 37 per cent., the buildings by 50 per cent., and about the same ratio for the increase of sheep and horses ; and all this notwithstanding large exports of sheep, and during a period of almost unexampled commercial depression.

The address indicates but little of the intentions of the Government during the present session. A fresh appropriation of the unexpended balance of the loan to he made ; in what direction we cannot venture to assume. This, together with the passing of the estimates for the current year, and the imposition of an education rate, is probably all that, the Government wish to accomplish prior to the meeting of the General Assembly.