SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE FINANCE OF THE COLONY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 247, 18 October 1877, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE FINANCE OF THE COLONY.

The following is an extract from Sir George Grey's speech to the House on Monday last: — The great question is, what do we propose shall be the immediate object of our attention? If I have read the will of the House aright, I understand that the one thing hon. members have at heart afc the present moment is a thorough consideration of the financial condition of the colony, and then, connected with that, I understand thq,t ifc is their desire that every possible retrenchment in our expenditure should be carried out which can be effected without injury to the welfare of the colony, and without affecting the efficiency of the public service. As yet we have had bufc little time to look into the finauces of the colony, bufc certainly the im-

pression left on my mind is that they are in sucha state that theretrenchmeent desired by the House is absolutely necessary. Imay say that it will be our duty very shortly indeed to apply to the House for further sums of money to carry on temporarily the administration of the affairs of fche country. It will be within the knowledge of hon. gentlemen that even within the lasfc few days an advance of £100,000 was given by this House, I was in hopes that we should have found thafc untouched when we came into office, but that sum haa been more than half exhausted. We have already entrenched upon the £40,000 that we found when we took office, in order to meet demands for payments, so that the residue left does not exceed £38000. Again the House is aware that iv its liberality ifc thought fife to authorise the Government to overdraw to the extent of £100,000 without any vote of this House to meet unforeseen expenses. That reserve might have been available for us, but- it also is nearly exhausted, and I think only £3,000 of that sum remains afthe present moment. The available balance therefore at our command is so trifling that we must soon appeal to the liberality of ahe House to enable us to get on even for the next few days. In addition to the immediate want of funds, I find, and my colleagues I think will agree with me, that the liabilities of the colony of New Zealand at the present moment considerably exceed those liabilities which we expected we should find in existence. But upon this subject, and upon finance generally, I hope that to-morrow, or at all events withiu a very short period, the Colonial Treasurer, the hon member for Dunedin city, in bringing forward a motion for Committee of Supply, will give detailed information to the House which will set the subject clearly before the hon. gentlemen who compose this representative chamber. Wifch regard to the assets of the colony, I need hardly say that looking to its vast capabilities, and to the large sums now being rea'ised frofa the sale of lands which is a most material proof of its wealth, there can be no doubt that any funds the liberality of this House may place afc the disposal of the gentlemen who may for the time being be conducting the affairs of the country can very easily be obtaiued on fitting terms, and that any financial difficulty must be only of momentary pressure lasting only as long as this House pleases and uo longer. But with such demands upon its liberality the House has a right to insist upon very large reductions in the expenditure being made, and has a right to know the direction in which those reductions are likely to go. Now my own impression for some time past has been thafc the essential mode of carrying out great reductions must be by changing to a very great extent the system of administration that prevails within the colony. Honorable gentlemen all know that recently a very great change has taken place. Two great systems of administration were running concurrently in New Zealand, the system of administration of the General Government, and the system of administration of the Provincial Governments. Well, honorable gentlemen were pleased in their wisdom to destroy the Provincial Governments aud the Provincial legislatures, but in doing that they did not do away with the Provincial system, and there ia no doubt whatever that the two systems of administration have never yet merged into one another, and that a vast and unnecessary expenditure is incurred by attempting to conduct a system of administration not suited to one united government. The great effort, therefore, which I think must be made is to devise a system of administration of public affairs, by which fche whole administration will be grasped by the powerful hand of one government, if there is to be bufc one government. By that means very great simplification in the conduct of public business will be brought about, and I feel satisfied that a reduction in expenditure may be made which will even surpass the expectations of honorable gentlemen. Then again by turning our attention to the management of our railways, I believe that a reduction in expenditure can be secured which will also quite meet the expectations of the House. In those two directions we intend to work, and I hope we may be successful in showing to the House thafc we are worthy of the confidence which those honorable have reposed in us who have placed us in this position. Now, Sir, in addition to those two great modes of retrenchment, it is also necessary thafc in minor matters retrenchment should be made. Iv that direction also we will proceed rapidly, and I trust efficiently. In order that we' may show our determination to do whafc is right in that direction, we have resolved that as Ministers we will commence with ourselves, this being done from a belief thafc it is the duty of the public men of this colony in a time of pressure to set an example, and I trust a fitting example, of economy in all respects. By commencing in that way we shall leave our hands more unfettered to deal with other persons. It must nofc be imagined that in commencing retrenchment of this kind wa shall in any way fall upon those whose salaries are small, who are unable to protect themselves from any injustice, or to interest persons powerful enough to advocate their cause. We shall, as far as possible, spare all persons so situated, and only inter! fete in cases where the public good requires that those who can afford it should fall in with the prevailing system of economy. While say iug that we are determined to carry out retrenchment of that sort I may ad 1 that we are also equally resolved that no public work of importance shall be neglected, that the system of immigration and public works which has been commenced shall be carried to completion, and I trust to . satisfactory one, became we are well aware thafc where ao much has been done the works must uot be allowed to be useless, or to become lost from a neglect to finish them. We believe that the very retrenchment we propose to carry out, the very savings we intend to make, will enable us by the judicious application of the resources still left at our disposal to carry on more energetically, and I trust moie successfully than ever, the system of public works which has beeu commenced iv New Zealand. In this respect I feel that we shall derive great advantage from what has gone before, and be placed in a position superior to that which any preceding Ministry has occupied, because fchey had to deal with a new state of things in a new country, a country, comparatively speaking, . unexplored, and had at times to encounter fche prejudices of a race who knew not what the Europeans were about in the works they were carryiug on. Under such novel circumstances aud under such peculiar difficulties it was quite certain thafc mistakes must be made and failures occur, that for want of experience many things must be done more expensively than they need have been done, and must be done not so thoroughly and well as might have been the case under another system. With those examples and thafc experience before iis I think it may be in our power if we devote ourselves properly to our duty to carry on more efficiently than ever the public works of the colony, and the House may depend upon this, that if as they ' have hitherto done, they will liberally aid in ) these great objects they will flud in us energetic public servants prepared to the utmost to give effect to their wishes in thafc respect.

This is the way the Masterton Council has adopted to "raise the wind." According to the Standard:— «The Masterton City Council has resolved to treat theatrical companies visiting the township as pedlars, and license them accordingly. This resolution will no doubt cause a sensation in professional circes devoted to music and the drama We do nofc know whether the Rev Charles Clarke will come within the rule. If he does, we should like to see his visage after he has paid his fee as a pedlar." We take the following from the Wellington Argus-.— Lotteries are doomed; sweepstakes are to be swept away; Yaukee Grab must henceforth disappear from the bar counters of hotels, where the dice box and three dice conduce to that "elbow shaking " for liquors, and other matters which attract customers and receive added zest by the uncertainty of the hazard. Church bazaar lotteries and lucky bags must hereafter be past praying for. The Hon. Mr Hall has introduced into the Upper House a Bill entitled "An Act to prevent Lotteries and to regulate Art Unions." The Bill provides thafc it " shall not be lawful for any person under any pretence, form, denomination, or description whatsoever, or by means of auy device,, or contrivance whatsoever, fco sell or dispose of, or agree, or promise (whether with or without consideration) to sell or dispose of any lauds or tenements, or any estate or interest therein, or any ship or vessel, goods, wares, or merchandise whatsoever, to or among any person or persons whomsoever by means of any game either of skill or of chance, by lottery or chance, whether by the throwing of any dice or the drawing of any tickets, lots, numbers, or figures, or by means of any wheel or otherwise, howsoever." The next section imposes a penalty nofc exceeding £100 for the infringement of these provisions. A subsequent clause fixes a penalty not exceeding £200 on any person who " establishes, commences, or is a partner in any lottery, or in any scheme by which prizes, whether of money, or of any ofcher matter, or thing, are gained, drawn for, thrown or competed for, by lot, dice, or any ofcher mode of chance." And the same penalty is exigible from any person who shall manage or conduct, or assist in managing or conducting; and for any second offence such persons shall be liable to sixmouths imprisonment. Art unions are exempted from the operation^ these provisions, but an interpretation very rigidly prescribes how such art unions shall be constituted. These shall mean voluntary associations which have been or may be formed in New Zealand for the purchase of paintings, drawings, sculpture, or works of art, and the moneys raised under such arrangement shall be expended solely in the purchase of such works of art. But no such association shall be deemed an art union unless the deed of partnership, or rules, or regulations relating to such associatiou shall have been first submitted and approved of by the Attorney-General. This Bill ia, we believe, likely to pass unless the political crisis stops the way; aud if it does become law, then hotel-keepers and other promoters of lotteries, sweepstakes, and use of the dice box, had better exercise some not unnecessary caution, for the eyes of the myrmidons of the law will certainly be upon them. A California grand jury has decided that pistols are not deadly weapons ia the hands of ladies.