New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4424, 25 May 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1875.

Our Melbourne letter contains matter of more than passing interest to New Zealand colonists. By pursuing a policy of isolation, under the plea of " protec- " tion," Victoria has been steadily retrograding since 1865. Its enormous revenues, and vast natural resources, added to the enterprise of its settlers, prevented anything like a sudden collapse; but steadily, if slowly, Victoria has been going backward. In other words, owing to repressive fiscal legislation, and the stoppage of State aid to immigration, capital has been unable to fructify as it might have done, and population has increased at a comparatively slow rate. But this only half expresses the mischief its fiscal policy has inflicted on Victoria : while the numerical increase of population was mainly by excess of births over deaths, the manhood of the colony—the producing classes —between the ages of 25 and 40 years, decreased at'an alarming rate. A large proportion of the bone and sinew of Victoria emigrated. Thus, although Victoria can boast of a larger population than it could in 1865, the country is absolutely poorer than it was then. Its purchasing power i 3 less —the bread-winners earn less—and consequently there is a depression in trade which not only affects the revenue, but injuriously affects all classes in the community save the very few whose business may happen to be bolstered by the State.. That, however, does not indicate any real vitality in "the protected industries." It is in the nature of a monopoly ; and for short may be designated "plunder by " Act of Parliament." It is said that the Kerferd Executive have leanings towards Free Trade, and that they, mean to follow in the wake of Mr. Robertson, of New South Wales ; but the unreasoning mob have their representatives in the Victorian Assembly, where the majority are " protectionists." Hence, a selfish regard for office may blind Ministers to the pressing needs of the country, and the evil day of fiscal derangement may be averted a little longer by the sale of the public estate for revenue purposes. This has been already done to an alarming extent; but so long as the administration of the affairs of the colonies remains in the hands of men who have not drawn their first breath upon the soil, so long will patriotism be wanting, and selSsh considerations alone influence and guide their policy. This is the necessary consequence of early efforts at colonisation, combined with representative institutions. The evil will be cured in time ; but posterity will have to pay dearly for the selfish policy of depletion pursued by the founders of the country. We learn that an attempt is to bo made to revive the old Liberal Association of Victoria. There is undoubtedly need for it. The programme is a comprehensive one, and it might suggest something practical to tho reforming spirits who usually appear so active about the time of a general election in New Zealand. " Retrenchment in the Civil Service ; "abolition of State prisons": these are the two important points in the political programme of the Victorian Liberal Association. We wish it a successful career; but if it has no better fate than that which attended the efforts to reform the Civil Service in New Zealand, and limit the pension system, it will be a very harmless affair indeed. By dint of great- effort the abuse of pensions Was struck at, but the Assembly stood quietly by and saw the work of two years before undone, and the old system legalised. New Zealand is in reality governed by tho Civil Servants and not by Ministers; and what is much more to the point, it is done under legislative sanction, by virtue of laws passed by the General Assembly in the interest, and for the agrandisement, of the Civil Service. So jealous, indeed, was the Legislative Council of " the independence of the " Civil Service" that it refused to empower Ministers, who are responsible to Parliament for the administration of public affairs, to dismiss a member of that body, however essential it might be for the good of the public service to make an example, or however welldeserved such an extreme measure of punishment. Reform of the Civil Service of New Zealand is therefore out of the question under such con- ! ditions. The pinch of "hard times" in Victoria.has compelled the producers—' —that.. is, .the payers of taxes—to inquire whether a privileged governing caste is essential to the welfare of the State; arid when a similar pressure is felt in New Zealand, we venture to predict that such a revulsion of feeling will take place as will speedily clear away the rubbish heap of privileges and abuses that has been steadily accumulating since 1853, through war and peace, and in utter disregard •of the best interests and requirements of the country, j The abolition of- provincial institutions' is, however, the first step to that end. The abuses to which,we refer will never be got at'so long as the provincial system stands, bet wen the people and the Colonial Government. 'When the electors are brought face to . face with the. Government, and really find out how, much they pay, and ask.themselves ; what ? they get in return for the expenditure, i their representatives in the Assembly wilT be forced 'to act in' some other capacity than that of registering the decrees of the Civil Servants; Meanwhile, the pinch of hard times is not felt, save in Auckland and Westland. . There is still land to sell and money to spend in Otago and Canterbury ; but the land is limited in.extent, and the money soon goes, and when all has been dissipated, as it-will be in time, these provinces ; will turn again and rend the Colonial Government. The bark of; Auckland will be as nothing to the wolfish bite of Otago and Canterbury. They have been so long accustomed to "spending Governments" that .they will be unable to appreciate the advantages of a taxing " Government, which, on the completion of tho public works, will only be in a position to spend money in the collection of revenue.