THE Marlborough Express. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1869.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 188, 7 August 1869, Page 3

THE Marlborough Express.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1869.

“ Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according- to conscience, above all other liberties.’ —Milton.

We confess that with the public at large, we are much disappointed at the way in which the Ministry propose to deal with this Province and its interests. We had hoped that its claims to a pro rata share of the Ordinary Revenue of the Colony, that is, the duties paid on goods consumed in Marlborough, would receive some attention, and that an attempt at least, would be made to remedy the special grievance xmder which she labors. Let us once again re-state the case : Like all other Provinces, no matter how large, we have to maintain certain General Government departments, as jail, police, harbours, and the like, but unlike others, we do not receive a like proportion of revenue wherewith to defray the cost ; not that we do not produce it, but because such duties happen to be, for convenience sake, more easily collected elsewhere. The result has been that the revenue accruing to this Province during the last nine years has been less than the General Government charges alone, and these have further absorbed a large proportion of our Land Revenue, besides leaving a considerable debt, which was “ sponged out ” two years ago.

This is illustrated by a table published with the Financial Statement, which shews that for the period 1860-9, the total Ordinary revenue of Marlborough was but £60,128, while the charges were, for Colonial purposes £30,4:51, for General Government Services within and for the Province, £37,815, and £8,531 was paid over for Appropriation, shewing an excess over the revenue of £16,970 ! Plow then could we avoid falling into debt and trouble, while there was a loss of £ 1,000 a year, by reason of the Government taking more from us than it gave. Last year LA. Fox proposed to terminate the partnership between the Governments, taking the gross amount of Ordinary Revenue, and after retaining the payment for a portion of the General Government departments, divide the balance among the Provinces upon a ’population basis, which would produce at the rate of 30s. per head for the financial year. Thus to know wl-.t each Province would have to receive was but a simple arithmetical sum. Our share being about £6,000. By this system, and this only, could justice be done to this Province, while all others would be dealt prfith equitably. But this Session Mr. Fox has forgotten his scheme, as well as Marlborough’s wrongs, and as we were enabled to shew our readers last week, his remedy is, to say the least, a singular one—is in fact no remedy at all. Before we refer further to this however, let us quote a passage from the Colonial Treasurer’s financial statement in minuter detail than that telegraphed to us last week : “ A capitation allowance to the provinces would, it is true get rid of the anomaly of some provinces receiving Customs Revenue for goods consumed in other provinces, and so operate more justly in that respect than, I am free to admit, the present system does. On the other hand, this is no new circumstance ; and as wo do not propose this session to deal with that other question—the partnership as it affects the remodelling of the incidence and nature of the taxation—we will not submit to the House proposals which in a measure would organically change the relations between the colony and the provinces. We know at any rate that the partnership renders it the interest of every province to aid the General Government in reducing the cost of provincially charged services. An alteration, whatever its other recommendations, would not promote economy, and wo think it may well be left for more mature consideration.” —lt will be observed that now as last year, the injustice is admitted, and we contend that the principle is equally so whether it be applied to one small Province, or to half-a-dozen, and the length of time it has existed only aggravates the injury.

The remedy devised for our case is to re-annex Marlborough to Nelson We give another extract, that it may be seen exactly what is proposed : “Marlborough is in a condition of insolvency. The people of|Maiiborough evidently do not care to tax themselves sufficiently to maintain the expense of a separate Government, and it is obviously inconsistent with the institutions of the country that any one province should remain a permanent burden on the consolidated revenue set apart for the use of other provinces or of the colony generally. Wo see only one course open—tho re-annexation of the province to its parent province, Nelson ; and we accordingly propose to bring in a bill providing for the absorption of Marlborough. The bill will be general in its nature, in order to enable everyone concerned to ai-rive at a friendly conclusion respecting the many details which will require to be considered, in order that they may be embodied in a more complete act next session.

“ Ma-rlborough is insolvent!” therefore not in a position to refuse any terms which may be dictated. Justice must be thwarted, and the weak handed over to its stronger enemy. Prior to 1860, the people of this district had sufficient experience of the way Nelson dealt with her out-settlements, to know what treatment to expect in tho future. We do not care to go into the history of those times further than we can help, but to illustrate the position. Nelson sold the bulk of the land in the Wairau, but persistently refused to refund any portion of the proceeds by spending money on public works, or opening roads; until at length the spirit of the Settlers was aroused, and they sought and obtained Separation. Then too the trade of the Wairau was with Nelson, whence all her supplies were obtained. During the last few years all this has changed, little sympathy exists between the two Provinces, the greater part of the trade has been with Wellington, and there is now practically, and in a business sense, a far closer connection with that place than with Nelson. There is nothing to be gained by either side in the proposed transfer. We should simply forfeit our liberty and independence; and be governed from a place with which we have communication about twice a month; practically we might as well be tacked on to Southland. Local Government will of course be out of the question, nor will our influence be very extensive in the Nelson Provincial Council. Nelson would draw our Land Fund, and give us in return, Nelson officials,

whom wc do not know, in exchange for 7 o those whom we do know, who have; grown with out' growth, and therefore know all our requirements. Nelson would also rectify the complaint alluded to in the extract quoted above in reference to Taxation, and all the Acts in operation in Nelson proper would be applied here, inclusive of those relating to Roads, Education, Scab, &c., — and all this whether we liked it or not ! But will Nelson be willing to have us back, tin-repentant too as we are, and shall be? Wo think not, since she has nothing to gain by the annexation, but endless worry and annoyance. ~We wait somewhat curiously to see how she will meet the suggestion.

The promised measure is to be a general one, or in other words, the battle is to be fought, and—if Mr. Fox is successful—the annexation will be completed in the Assembly directly, while provision is to bo made in the Act for enabling the respective Provincial Councils to decide upon the details during the recess, with a view of ratifying them next session, consequently as a remedy for our present ills, no loss than the future, the device is useless. Our Provincial Council lapses in a few weeks, and it will therefore be necessary to elect a new one, when the subject of annexation will be placed directly before the people for their consideration, and we shall be much surprised if one per cent, be found favorable to the scheme. 0 /vv«l * •'