South Canterbury Times, PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1879.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2070, 10 November 1879, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1879.

There are two kinds of questions at present occupying the attention of political circles in New Zealand, One kind is of an abstract character; the other kind is eminently practical. To the former belongs the questions of electoral reform and the adjustment on an equitable basis of the representation ; to the latter the Public Works policy, and the great question of finance. The abstract or constitutional questions are undoubtedly most important in their nature, but the others at this Parliamentary juncture are urgent, and admit of no delay. One of the great causes of the decline and fall of the late administration was undoubtedly its extravagance. The members of the Grey Ministry started with fair promises of financial reform ; but their good intentions came suddenly to grief. It will be remembered that one of their first

efforts was to reduce the allowance to. Ministers, and this was attempted in' a manner that plainly evidenced there’ was but little determination. Since then, instead of making reductions, the Civil Service has been increased, and in various ways the unproductive expenditure has -acquired enormous dimensions. / The numerical strength of the Upper House has been quite unnecessarily augmented, arid in this direction alone the burdens of the colony have been intolerably increased-. ■ To undo much of what has been done is both a difficult and a thankless task, hut it is quite evident that this task will have to bo undertaken by the Government. As regards the general quesrion of retrench-, menr, the pruning knife must be judiciously administered. Individual interests will suffer by the operation, bur if the work is done skilfully, the suffering may bo’materially modified. What is inquired in connection vvitii the Civil Service, is not so much a, general reduction affecting the illpaid portions of the departments; as a Wholesome,': combination of offices, which at present are little bettor than sinecures, and the abolition of offices that are useless. The question of taxation, is another that must occupy the best attention of the legislature. That taxation will have to bo increased is undeniable. The only thing to be ascertained is in what way the object sought is to he effected. Will, the increase bo brought about by direct or indirect taxation ? Is a properly tax inevitable ? If a property or an income tax can he avoided in the meantime, it would be advisable, wo think, for the Ministry to try some other process for ini proving the revenue. The agitation for a discriminating Customs tariff has opened up a way out of the difficulty'. By placing duties on manufactures that Can be. carried on in the colony, new industries will be stimulated, and the revenue increased in a way that will he satisfactory to all parties, while the necessity (or contracting large loans periodically, may, to a large extent, he avoided.