The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 15, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 307, 15 September 1875, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 15, 1875.

" We .hell eell to nomen justice or right: We dial! deny to nonian justice or. right: We shall defer to no man jiistice or right.”

A very important Parliamentary paper, “ shewing the financial results of the proposed system of local Government, as compared with the present system of administration of the Provincial Governments,” has just been laid before the House of Representatives, and a copy thereof is now before us. The document has been apparently prepared with 1 due regard to authenticity, and may, therefore, he considered as thoroughly reliable. The revenue and expenditure under both the present and proposed systems of Government, are set down in juxtaposition columns, and ’the results are perceivable af a gtatlce.' A perusal of this paper Ought to convince the most sceptical'that the advantages derivable fromthe l abolition'bf Provincialism, ’ are unquestionably gleet, and that the sooner the consolidation

takes place the better. In bringing forward the Abolition Resolutions, last year, the er-Premier promised to submit such a statement as that under consideration, during the present Session of Parliament,- in order to demonstrate by' stern facts and figures, that bis scheme was based upon correct and undeniable data which couidTrot—bn observed on that occasion—-be challenged • and he has fulfilled this premise. The statement has now gone forth, and it speaks for itself. Unfortunately,-Sir Julius Vogel is not in bis place in the House -to - support it, but,. notwithstanding, its" effect cannot’be neutralised, although we hare-kid doubt the Oppositon will unscrupulously impugn it. " Of the nine Provinces into which

the Colony is divided, Auckland occupies the worst position as regards financial matters. Under the present system the estimated expenditure exceeds the revenue by >■ £24,361; whilst under the proposed system the estimated revenue will exceed the expenditure by £66,062. With so so large a deficit it would be absolutely impossible for the Province to continue to perform the functions of local Government any longer; and how Sir Geobge Geby, and other rabid Provincialists can assert with the utmost assurance, as they do, that the system of local Government is essential to the prosperity of the Colony, js really astounding. Either these men must be deliberately stating what jtjiey know to be false, or-they fail to apprehend that the Province is in the hopeless state of bankruptcy it is. Under the proposed system the revenue of Auckland is estimated at £195,505, as against £94,335, (including £ll,OOO advanced by the Colonial Government) wider the present system —a most marked contrast indeed. Thus it will be seen that the Province will be benefited by abolition to the tune of £66,072 instead of having to contend with adeficit of £21,384, with sjjo prospect whatever of bettering by being taken under

the wing of the Central Government. Of this proposed revenue £4sJ)ol) x is. to be derived from Confiscated Land 3, and £85,495 from Consolidated revenue, particularised as follok’J-<r-Departments, £47,347; Municipalities, £9,475 ; Hoad Boards, £13,673 ; Outlying districts, £15,000. The sum of £36,200 is to be raised by Treasury Bills. - ln-tlie Departments aniswvicesare la absorb,, £47,347 ; lands and surveys £10,200 ; interest on Provincial totrw interest on railways, £19,067. A grant of £12,000 is to be made for Education, but as tbisamountistotally inadequate for the purpose, we are at a loss to conceive how the deficiency ; is to be supplied, unless, indeed, this sum is to pet largely; supplemented. In the proposed revenue nothing is. set dowfi for Education, which leads to the supposition that the present system of local taxation is to be dispensed with, under- the ,n«w regimp. - There is to be ayiilatjle for Jocjl pteblje works, endowments, &c., the following , sums: — Grants to Municipalities, £9,475; license , fees given up to Municipahtibs, 1 £2,200-grants to Road Boards (one moiety from land fund,) £27,341; works in country districts, £15,041. —ln these last two items we have £42,387 available for the improvement of country districts, tfMdb.'ils is frellAnown, have sadly neglected by the Provincial Government, and notably sp. JJoverty Bay, which has suffered ” greater injustice at its hands than any other part of the Province. The Central Government, /therefore, very Considerately,inskbs pfovimdn forthdse outlying disticts which have hitherto derived little or no benefit from the local Government; so that the absorption of the latter Government, into the former, will, in every respect, be a salutary improvement. The other Provinces, with the excep. tion of Marlborough, exhibit a Surplus, respectively, under the present system. Canterbury and Otago, from having a large laud fundot their disposal, are in a most flourishing condition, and will not consequently be benefited by abolition to the same extent that other Provinces ‘in less favorable circtfmstances will. ,The former , Prpyjace has now a surplus revenue of £538,485, and the latter a surplus of £163,864. With such a vast revenue both these Provinces are Eble enough to manage their own affairs without any.aid from the General Government; And occupying, as th ey do, this advantageous position they can well afford to offer the most rtrbnuoiis opposition Vo‘ the Abolition Bill. It is, however, a fact that cannot be controverted ’ that abolition, will prove a boon to -all.-tiie Provinces—even to Canterbury and Otago—and although obstructionists may succeed in thwarting the measure this Session, it may safdiy’Be predicted that tho new Parliament will pass it — the verdict of the country being in its favor. For the information of our readers we append a tabulated statement of the revenue and expenditure of the Provinces under the present and proposed .syrteips:— ;

« " »- ——•-'"'■’■■'i 1 - [Notwithstanding: the( great 'amount-of 'time and money' that was last year expended on the subject of tKi colonisation of Polynesia, and the establishment of state forests, ths Government have taken no steps whatever regarding those, although a period of fifteen months has elapsed since the latter measure was passed. The sum of £75000 was set aside for the purpose of establishing stat® forests, but although Sir Jtrtius Vogel and his colleagues extraordinary importance to the subject, ministers have not thought it worth while to bring the Act into operation. Regarding the subject of promoting commercial intercourse with Polynesia, which Sir Julius considered even of greater importance to the country than the great Public Works and Immigration schemes—ministers have not only done nothing—but according to the frank confession of the Native Minister, they hare given no further consideration to the matter. This is benefit spfertkifeg and we trust Sir Donald McLean vrill see the propriety of inculcating tlld exercise or the same virtue upon his, colleagues and followers. Both Maori and Pakdha would then have more confidence in them. Last year the assertion was often made, that Vogel was the Government and the Government Vogel. This was a course denied, but the present eandid confession of Sib Donald now places the matter beyond doubt.

:gj. ' Present System. svemlus. ' 2,888 99,208. 14,935 . 22,135 538.4854 • 2,785i 163,864DEFICIT. 21,384.712 ' ■ . 1 Pboposbd System. QJ SUEPLUS. 'THL8SI 19,004 47,867 w,7ii: 5%O23 34443. 218,588 Auckland Tftranaki Wellington Hawke’s Bay SFelson Marlborough Canterbury Westland Otago REVENUE. 104,355 i 20,905 257,902 50,924 78,722 16,634 947,777 57,157 626,610 EXPBNDT. 115;739 18,017 159$94 35,989 56-587 17(546 409,292 54,372 462,746 . BEVENUE. 195,595 ; 42,758 280,445 , 53,633101,017 29,177 - 979,340 r 86,265 • 673,534 EXPEND!. 1129,533 1 19,407 ' 157,56*1 34,629 53,150 18,466 403,317 51,832 454,946 r. K G> co ro ’