GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 24, 8 July 1871, Page 6

GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.

No. 2. We lately compared the Customs Department of New Zealand with that of Victoria, and found, from the official reports, that in point of economy and efficiency the New Zealand Department leaves the Victorian very far behind. We took occasion then to illustrate the very great injustice done by comparing a country of the peculiar configuration of New Zealand with a compact country like Victoria; and showed that supposing the two countries had the same population, the expense of governing the one whose pop jlation is scattered over a country with 1&00 miles of coast line, and separated into distinct and remotely situated communities by natural boundaries, must be far greater per head than what should be required in governing the other. We also showed that, for the purpose of comparison, the least populous country stood at a great disadvantage, because, while population directly affects the receipts of the various public departments, it does not affect, in the same proportion, the departmental expenditure. " To expect, therefore," as we remarked, " that a colony with a scattered population, onethird of the comparatively concentrated population of its neighbor, should be able to show the same ratio of departmental expenditure to receipts, would be an obvious injustice." Yet, great as is the disadvantage in which New Zealand stands to Victoria in these respects we established, we think incontrovertibly, that at least one of her public depart meats (the Customs) is managed with far more economy and efficiency—collecting the revenue from over thirty ports at one per cent, less cost than Victoria from three, or we may say one chief port. We purpose to-day to make the same comparison between the Postal Departments of the two colonies. Here again we might dwell upon the unfairness of comparing Victoria with one postal centre (Melbourne) with New Zealaud, which has eleven postal centres. But, taking for granted, once for all, that this disadvantage will be remembered, we proceed to analyse the reports before us. Assuming the population of Victoria to be 750,000, and New Zealand 250,000, let us compare the business done in each colony. In Victoria, the total number of letters received and despatched in 1870, was at the rate of 15 per head of the population, while in New Zealand the number was 22£ or 50 per cent more per head. In Victoria, the number of newspapers despatched and received was 1\ per head, while in New Zealand it was ls£. In Victoria, the number of money orders issued during the year 1870 was 91,002, against 81,864 of New Zealand ; and the number paid 79,191, against 19,221. The value of the money orders issued was £291,626 3s sd, against £140,454 7s lid; the value of the orders paid being £261,871 15s, against £84,823 19s 6d. The number of new savings banks accounts opened was 7973, against 4304 ; the number closed being 4662, against 2277. " The total amount of deposits, received " (we are quoting the Victorian official report presented to both Houses of Parliament) " during the year was £242,192 3s 6d," while the total amount of deposits in New Zealand was (as we learn from the published returns) £264,328 5s 7d! This does not, by any means, confirm the estimate some of our contemporaries entertain of the respective wealth of the two colonies, nor does it dispose us to believe what was lately given out as an indisputable fact, that " there is more wealth in any two counties of the one colony than in the whole of the other." But to proceed. The total amount of balances to the cred ; t' of depositors on the 31st December, 1870, was in Victoria, £279,550 4s 4d ; in New Zealand, £295,372 Is 7d. In other words, the savings per head of the population of Victoria in the Government savings banks amount to seven shillings and fivepence halfpenny, and in New Zealand to one pound three shillings and sevenpence halfpenny. Were we to deduct the Maori population, the difference would be still more striking. The average balances in favor of depositors are—in Victoria, £l3 4s; in New Zealaud, £2l. The total number of deposits received during the year in Victoria was 57,236, averaging £4 4s

7|d each; and in New Zealand 20,489, averaging £l3 each. In the Telegraph Department, the Victorian report gives the work done for the two years 1869 and 1870. We have accordingly culled from New Zealand statistics the work done in these years, and the comparison stands thus:—

The number of Victorian message? in 1869 was 256,723; of intercolonial messages, 23,747. Total, 280,470. In New Zealand the number was 185,423. In 1870, the number of Victorian messages was 423,591; of intercolonial, 31,007; total, 454,598; in New Zealand, the total for the year ending 30th June was about 310,000. In 1869, the receipts for Victorian messages amounted to £24,154 6s 9d ; and for intercolonial, £10,028 13s Bd, making a total of £34,183 0s sd. In New Zealand, the receipts for the same year amounted to £28,833 4s 10s, In 1870, the receipts for Victorian messages amounted to £22,811 19s 7d; and for intercolonial, £10,333 10s 9d; making a total of £33,145 10s 4d; while those of New Zealand in the year ending as above, amounted to £33,078 18s 3d. The " Argus" of the 21st ult., referring to the statistics of the Electric Telegraph Department, remarks : —" The income of the latter year, from Victorian telegrams, did not quite reach that of its predecessor, but the balance of gain to the community will be easily appreciated, when it is observed that while the increase in the number of messages year against year is fully 65 per cent., the decrease in gross cash revenue is not quite 6 per cent Again, in intercolonial telegraphy, the reduction in rates raised the number of messages nearly 50 per cent.; the decline in revenue being about 3 per cent. There is here distinct evidence of the rapidity with which a well-considered reduction tends to recoup the revenue, whilst it simultaneously confers a great benefit upon the people." If we apply these remarks to New Zealand Telegraphy, we shall find that the increase in number is 67 per cent. ; and instead of a decrease in value there is an actual increase of about 14 per cent. ! Hence, it follows that thepublic in New Zealand have been more benefited, and the revenue at the same time not lessened by our adoption of the low tariff introduced by the Post-master-General. Compared with any publishedreturns we have seen, the New Zealand Telegraph is most largely used by the population, and the expenses of its management are the least in proportion. " Facts" so remarkable dispel for ever the " fancies" of those who would try to persuade the public, that it is losing in public confidence or in financial prosperity. These figures now quoted show that the Post Office, the Government Savings Banks, and the Telegraph, are far more generally taken advantage of in New Zealand than in Victoria. It remains for us to show that as they are more generally useful, so they are more economically administered. This point, however, we must reserve for another occasion.