SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 46, 18 November 1867, Page 286

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

THE NEW ARMED I CONSTABULARY ; FORCE. - (From, the Colonist, October 15.) If there is a’ feeling of indignant regret at the expenditure for Militia and Volunteers, and the small return the Colony gels for that outlay, what must be the sensation of every sensible colonist on perusing the Defence Estimates, which were rushed through a thin House, at: a late hour, and all but voted blae f. The sum of JgIoB,BBB is what has to be .paid this year for Defence' purposes in addition, to the cost of Militia and' Volunteers. Yet we were told early in the session, that the;Defence office* wis to-be abolished, but the .lateu . days.'of ,legislation tell another etory, and this tHe : Defence estimates disclose. We pass over the ‘‘ liabilities ” of;. .£47,P00 for pay and rations; to military settlersj of and for ;a.s'- :, .the:..scheme heay .the last, nor ever to: cease pay? ing ; and ; coiiiV* to the? Armed- Constabqlary.items. *• v . Throughbiit the whoie; of these there isa.m r Inspectors and Subdnspectdrs sistant-surgeonsi 18-Sergeants, and 18 ;cost;.£3,o6s'; making.for officers and petty, officers the large spra

whole. ; Here is creation of officesincrease of Governmental patronage to. a degree ..entirely beyond the requirements of the force, even if that force;' were necessary of itself, 'which North Island members of the House of Representatives—r-m en who repre? sent arid come from the ; heart; of disaffected districts-rrdeclare to be needless extravagance, affirming that the provinces can protect themselves, and that they want' no Government force of the kind. la truth, the so-called abolition of the Defence-office’is, like so many more of the measures of the session just closed,, an unmitigated sham. The “ Defence Force ”of past years has become the Armed Constabulary force of the present, and together with Militia and Volunteer Expenditure, is costing the country nearly .£130,000 a year ! This is not an unfair sample of much of the outlay of the, year. It is difficult to think or write calmly in the presence of such .facts, and if these are not enough to rouse the people of New Zealand against the entire system of legislation, taxation, and expenditure; —to awaken them to the worse than uselessness of the “ representatives ” who betray them and their true interests ; —and to lead the people with one accord to demand and insist on a reformation, —then, the people of New Zealand deserve to be ruled as they are being-ruled. Let them look to their representatives, and let them reject those who are only such in name; and who do not hesitate to sacrifice to party that which belongs to the people. Who cares what Ministry may fall, how many political complications may arise, if thereby were obtained the prime necessity of the day, a reduction in our burdens, which means a redaction of our expenditure ? How Ministers and the Parliament view this crying necessity of the country is farther exemplified in other particulars than the extraordinary Defence Esti mates of 1867. •