THE PREMIER and THE DEFICIT.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 526, 29 May 1880, Page 3

THE PREMIER and THE DEFICIT.

Notwitstanding the plain statement by the Premier, that the Government now find the deficiency in the colonial finances to be “actually £200,000 over the estimate given by Major Atkinson” (£'<9o,ooo) —in other words, just about one million—some people have misunderstood his subsequent remark, that “ he did not think the prospects wore so gloomy as had been anticipated,”to mean that Major Atkinson had exaggerated the amount of fhe deficit. We have reason to believe that the Premier’s cheering anticipations had reference mainly to the improved prospects of the country in general, and the consqcucnt lightening of the burdens which would have pressed very heavily on the people, if not, indeed, with absolutely crushing weight, had the commodcial depression of the last 18 months continued in full force, We also gather from his remarks that, as wo expected would be the the case, it had been found practiblc to effect some large reductions in expenditure, and so to lessen the strain on the revenue. So far as present appearances go,even if every penny of the Property Tax is collected, there will still remain quite a quarter of a million more lo be provided. If .Ministers can devise any way of avoiding the imposition of further taxation, they will do more towards rendering themselves popular throughout the colonv than probably they could achieve in any Other way, and we must confess to entertaining grave doubts as to the ability of the country to sutaiu any increase of taxation— Post .