New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 17.
Political news from Victoria is in accord with previous anticipations. The Kerferd Ministry has resigned, and is succeeded by a scratch Government, at the head of which is the arch-protectionist,-Mr. Graham Berry. We are not at all surprised at this. Indeed it is what we thought an extremely likely outcome of the fiscal policy propounded by Mr. Kerfbrd. It was too marked in its approach towards Free Trade, and as it struck at monopoly and class interests it was certain to evoke the strongst hostility. The owners of property, capitalists, sinecurists, and sinners of every type and complexion, banded together to resist the financial proposals of the Government; and, failing to secure a working majority in the Assembly, or to obtain a dissolution from the Governor Mr. Kbrferd tendered his resignation. The Acting-Governor, Chief Justice Stawbll, did not think there was sufficient reason for an appeal to the country. He thought the people rather favored the high Customs tariff than a reniission of duties; if Sir William Stawell bo right in this, all we have to say on the subject is, that the Victorian democracy is the most patriotic selfdenying under the sun. It ia a striking testimony to the conservative tendency of manhood suffrage (ind- the' ballot. But we venture to doubt the accuracy of Sir
William Stawell’s opinion. It is likely that the people of Victoria do not see their way at once to adopt such a revolutionary fiscal policy as the one proposed to them by Mr. Kereerd’s Government, but this is simply owing to the fact that they have not grasped it in detail. They cannot realise the immense gain it will be tg the masses to have an equal distributioUTif State burdens. By and bye they may come to understand this, and their losses, through the legalised system of ..plunder which Mr. Graham Berry, and;>his colleagues in the Ministry, and partisans outside the Government, entail upon them, because we cannot imagine that the men who had the boldness to propose such equitable measures will withdraw: from the conflict until the political education of the populace is complete. This may be a work of time, but it will be none the less thorough. The now Government enters upon the cares of office under circumstances favorable to its permanence, if its members are at all capable administrators and have the confidence of the Legislative Assembly. They have the support of the publicans and monopolists ; the Protectionist Press of Victoria will support them, and prejudice and ignorance beget them partisans. The Acting-Governor is also, to some extent, a partisan, although we think he acted in a constitutional manner in refusing a dissolution, if his estimate of public opinion be well founded. We await further developments with considerable interest, because New Zealand is very deeply concerned in the fiscal policy adopted by Victoria. We have benefited very much by the protective tariff of Victoria, since 1865, but should that colony adopt a free trade policy, combined with a liberal land law, the tables might be turned, and instead of New Zealand drawing population from Victoria, that country might begin to attract people from New Zealand. However, with Mr. Berry in office we have nothing to fear. The policy of isolation, which drove out the manhood and energy of Victoria in years past, will be continued. Private enterprise will remain clogged and fettered, and the natural development of the country retarded for the sake of a political heresy, which nothing but utter ruin is apparently potent enough to destroy. The New South Wales Parliament, on the other hand, has got through the work of the session without a change of Government, and if with some unseemly exhibitions, not without good results to the country. The land law has been amended with the view of promoting settlement and occupation ; immigration is to be resumed, and public works pushed ahead. The Treasury is overflowing, and altogether the country is in a prosperous state. We may therefore expect New South Wales to enter upon a new career of prosperity. Our trade with Sydney is on the increase, and this colony may hope to participate somewhat in its prosperity. The South Australian Budget shows a deficit, but the Treasurer has hit upon the expedient, by no means novel in colonial administration, to borrow largely on a falling revenue, with the view of stimulating settlement. Two millions and a half are to be borrowed, of which £1,900,000 is to be spent in the construction of 529 miles of railway. Immigration is in full swing, and 2000 persons are expected to arrive by Christmas next. The deficiency in the revenue is to be met by stamp and succession duties, with which we have been familiar for some time past in New Zealand. Considering the exceedingly light taxation to which South Australians are subjected, this scheme to supplement the revenue does not seem unreasonable. Indeed, considering the progressive tendency of the policy of all the Australasian colonies except Victoria, we consider the Adelaide Government by no means speculative in its proposals. If it is to keep pace with its neighbors it must have people ; and if it retains people it must give them land to live upon.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4496, 17 August 1875, Page 2
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878New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 17. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4496, 17 August 1875, Page 2
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