New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, AUGUST 5.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4486, 5 August 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, AUGUST 5.

The Estimates of revenue and expenditure, for the Government services, for the financial year 1875-76, form the most formidable-looking document of the kind that has yet been presented to the General Assembly of New Zealand. This is occasioned by the addition of the provincial estimates, under the proposed scheme of local administration. The Estimates extend over 132 pages of printed matter, and present many points of interest and comparison. Very few members of the Assembly, we fear, will have the patience and industry to go through them in detail, and take out the general results, yet we are satisfied the work, if thoroughly done, would repay the labor expended on it. However,! while we say this, we by no means intend to take the task upon ourselves. Our space would not admit of comparison and illustration to a sufficient extent, and. moreover, the matter would hardly be suited to a newspaper article. What strikes us most forcibly, on glancing over the Estimates, is the boldness of the Government in undertaking the work of extended administration, during the transition stage from provincial to local government. The provincial machinery is left intact, but the Government assume all the responsibility of administration. This is made plain on the face of the Estimates. Ministers assume the control, and with it full responsibility to Parliament. Thus, from the very initiation of their policy they challenge criticism, and thereby create a healthy political feeling. This is the first step towards an educated colonial public opinion, which was impossible altogether while there was divided responsibility in administration, and antagonistic or divergent aims in legislation. The Estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current financial year are therefore invaluable. The colony knows how much it costs to govern it, which it never did before ; it likewise knows how the money is to be expended ; and there is reason to believe that this knowledge will render more vigilant the observation of those who have heretofore looked almost exclusively within the narrow circle of provincial administration. Above all, the members of Provincial Councils and Executives willkeep a sharp look-out to find Ministers tripping, and should they commit any very serious mistake during the recess, it is certain to be brought to light in the Assembly. But for these Estimates, we say, it would be almost impossible to understand fully the magnitude and importance of the contemplated changes. It may be urged that the Government proposal does not effect any radical reform of the provincial system ; —that it leaves the territorial divisions of the colony intact, and continues the provincial laws and administrative machinery within them. This is true to a certain extent. The radical reform lies in abolishing the political divisions of the o6lony, and concentrating the Legislative and Executive functions. Administrative reform will follow in due course. Meanwhile the country is brought face to face with its expenditure as a whole, and that fact alone is worth much more than the loss of local dignity and importance caused by the abolition of Provincial Government. Then, again, the temporary delegation of powers under the Abolition of Provinces Bill, does not carry with it the element of Executive non-responsi-bility, which is the case under the existing system of delegation to elected Superintendents. Under the Bill, the officials holding the delegation of the Governor’s powers have no standing above that of departmental officers, the Ministers being responsible for all their acts. This is not the case, as every one knows, at present. It may be that the holder of the delegated powers of the Governor is in direct antagonism to the Ministry of the day, and uses his powers in opposition to their wishes ; and for this no one can call him to task. It is true, Ministers might advise the Governor to withdraw the delegation, but no Government which New Zealand has yet seen has been strong enough to resort to this extreme measure. The Superintendents are, therefore, practically independent. They are not responsible to their Councils for the use or abuse of the delegated powers, and Ministers are too weak to call them to account. The Abolition Bill puts an end to all this. The delegation under it of the Governor’s powers within any provincial district, would not carry with it any political influence. Hence the enormous gain in the direction of fixing responsibility upon Ministers.

With regard to the expenditure under provincial appropriations, it does not appear from the Estimates what works are to be proceeded with, but no doubt everything will depend upon their urgency and land revenue. The Government has laid down the wholesome doctrine that the lands of the colony are not to be sacrificed for mere revenue purposes, but should be administered with the view of promoting settlement. From this we infer that those Provincial Councils which magnanimously appropriated theirrevenue some two or three years in advance need not expect to have this speculative expenditure carried out at present. Necessary works Avill doubtless be gone on Avith, but in such a way as not to interfere with the carrying on of the works already in progress, or in competition witli the main trunk lines. In conclusion, we have to congratulate the country upon the concrete shape its public business is taking. ____________

The Wairarapa Standard comes out boldly and honestly against the Government moasurcs. With its principles we cannot agree, but we admire its consistency. It did not at first receive those measures with favor and then in twenty-four hours find reason to condemn them as some, of our contemporaries have done' On the contrary, the Standard takes its stand fairly at once. The Standard remarks:—“lt is said that ‘those whom the gods doom to destruction they first drive mad;’ but we can hardly think that they would deem any such preliminary step necessary to secure

the downfall of the Pollen Ministry. Their Abolition of Provinces and Local Government Pills are evidences of the one and indications of the other. There is but little use in criticising measures which will probably be turned inside out during their passage through the Legislature, and which that Legislature has not the power to carry out; but it will nevertheless be expected of us we should say something regarding them. The title of the first Bill is a misnomer. It does not abolish the provinces, but merely changes their name to that of ‘provincial districts,’ though this is what they really are at present. Its professions under this head are about as hollow as hustings promises, and like them they disguise an ulterior purpose. Though the name of ‘ province ’ is to he simply changed into ‘ provincial district,’ other changes are proposed of a far more sweeping and revolutionary character. Then if we turn to the Local Government Bill the lookout is not one whit more cheering. Instead of Provincial Councils freely elected by the people we are to have ‘ local governing bodies,’ the members of which are to possess a high property qualification, who are to be elected by voters who will have a ‘ number of votes up to six, proportionate to the value of their property.’ ”