South Canterbury Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2182, 16 March 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1880.

Wiiat is likely to be the outcome of the numerous Commissions which the Government has lately hecn creating ? Are they likely to be of any practical utility? Will they serve any good purpose beyond helping to drain away the few dregs that remain of the last colonial loan ? Have thej r been called into being with the object of facilitating or delaying the departmental reforms so faithfully promised by the Ministry? Is there anything which these Commisare likely to ascertain or recommend that could not be ascertained or recommended quite independent of their assistance? Is the back of that humble beast of burden—the uncomplaining public—so lightly freighted with taxation that it can afford to have costly Commissions piled upon it? Is the Ministry reduced to such a strait that it must purchase fidelity and continued support by finding billets for political renegades ? It may seem cruel to suggest that a Ministry, which bases its chief claim to confidence and support on its honesty and integrity of purpose, should condescend to such stratagem. But we must be candid, and we feel compelled to warn the Government that the composition of these Commissions is such as to make its best friends uneasy and uncomfortable, and its opponents jubilant. Of what are these Commissions composed ? Do the members represent the peojde and Parliament ? Are they men in whom either have implicit confidence ? What are their political antecedents and recommendations ? Are they elements of strength or weakness to the party with which they are associated ? Are they representative men whoso consistency qualifies them for their new appointments? or or arc they hungry axe-grinders and office-hunters whose support has to be purchased ? Is the Government compelled to fill the maws of unprincipled and insatiable trimmers? These may seem strong terms, but they are no stronger than the occasion demands. Regarded from any point of the compass, these Commissioners can only serve to heap odium upon the Government, and raise strong doubts as to its honesty and sincerity. The Opposition Press declares them to he a blind, and even Ministerial journals will hardly venture to defend them. Wo have a strong opinion that an army of Commissioners entirely composed of partisans some of them universally distrusted looks very much like a confession of weakness on the part of any Ministry. Departmental reforms* are demanded, and if the Ministry intend to keep their promises and pursue their heroic policy of retrenchment, these Commissions are quite unnecessary. Are these Commissions intended to cover a retreat from these promises ? Why have only the members of a certain political faith been selected for the work ? Is the Government afraid to entrust a small minority from the Opposition with this work of departmental overhauling ? Or is the whole thing such a transparent sham that disclosures must be strictly guarded against. Wehave watched the appointment of these Commissions with something akin to a feeling of contempt and disgust. However friendly towards the Government we might be inclined to he, their composition is such as to inspire loathing. The great majority of the Commissioners can only be designated weak vessels. We are not going to particularise, but to use an Americanism they are bad eggs. What good motive has induced the Ministry to sweep the rail-riders of the House, and the forlorn castaways of the constituencies together, and assort them on Commissions, perhaps its members will be able to explain wlien Parliament assembles. We can assure the Premier and his colleagues, however, that the country is not altogether blind, and that these hotch-potch Commissions, inflated as they are by political renegades, will hardly tend to alleviate the feeling of insecurity and discontent which the delay of departmental reforms that the recess was to see carried out, is gradually exciting.

The local Industries Commission has resolved to circularise the various Chambers oE Commerce asking them to make any suggestions think necessary, as to the means oE assisting industries in existence, and developing new ones. We don’t wish to forestall the chambers, but we think we can assist them. Their reply should be short and simple. It should begin byexpressing the fullest confidence in the steps which tire Colonial Treasurer has taken for developing our industrial greatness. As a means of further accelerating the progress and prosperity of our manufacturing centres, they might sugest that the all-round tax on property should be doubled, and that to make up for the loss of revenue caused by the exemption of colonial steamers and bank properties from taxation, a special prohibitive tax should be placed on machinery. An increase of the ad valorem duties on raw imports used in manufactures, say from 15 to 25 per cent., together with a. corresponding increase on the necessaries of life, would have a beneficial effect. Anything calculated to increase the cost of living must necessarily tend to diminish the rate of wages, and it is needless to say that low wages arc just what the manufacturer requires. In addition, dear living, and a deprivation of some of the necessaries of life will make the mechanic contented and cheerful, and promote his physical growth and strength. The duties on grain, and fruits, and fencing wire, and sawn timber, coupled with the property-tax and the re-imposition of the rates formerly levied on tea and sugar, will effect wonders in the way of building up the industries of New Zealand, and making her a colossal manufacturing empire such as her prophets of good and evil—the late Lord Macaulay and Sir Julius Yogel—-predicted when they called her the “Britain of the South.’’