COST OF PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

Southland Times, Issue 905, 24 February 1868, Page 2

COST OF PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

From certain figures complied by the Southern Gross from the " Blue Books" of the Colony, that journal finds " that the provinces received in revenue, and spent, during eleven years, — £7,380,477 (say in round numbers, Seven Millions sterling), and had loans in the market amounting to £2,359,000, of which about £405,000 remains to be raised under the Seven Million Loan Act of last session, the balance of nearly Two Millions being already negotiated and spent. Accordingly Provincial institutions cost, since 1857 inclusive, no less than Nine Millions and a half sterling. Where has the money gone to ? Echo answers — Where? The General Government by the same calculation cost, in round numbers, since 1857, Three Millions Six Hundred Thousand Sierlvmg\ added to which is a loan of Three Millions, and the balance of the seven million loan, which would altogether place the cost of the General G-overnment for the last eleven years at about Seven Millions Sterling. And we might again ask in this place also, — Where has the money gone to ? For a better understanding of the cost of the system of double Government under which New Zealand has been prostrated, we shall give a bird'a-eye view of the case. Colony founded, 28th June, 1840. Population at close of 1867, say 200,000 souls. Public debt, virtually £7,000,000. Expenditure, general and provincial, from 1853 to 1867 inclusive, £11,274,626. Provincial revenue, plus the ordinary and territorial, say £600,000. Local taxes throughout the colony, say £500,000. Revenue of New Zealand from 1840 to 1852 inclusive, say £625,374. Total revenue and debt on December 31st, 1867, £20,000,000. Average expenditure per head, taking the population at 200,000 souls— £loo. Of this immense expenditure, the bulk, it will be seen, has been got through since, 1856, when Responsible Government was introduced. Truly we have been a race of prodigal sons in New Zealand. We have managed to waste in twenty-eight years a capital which, without accumulated interest, would give every soul in the colony a fortune of One Hundred Pounds Sterling ; and how many of the number, like the Prodigal in the parable, would now be glad to fill their bellies with the husks the ewiue do eat ? There are thousands in abject misery in this colony, where such extravagant waste has been going on. Surely the time has come for abolishing provincial institutions, and all other institutions which have been worked in so.

destructive a manner. When gentlemen of the Provincial Council propose to abolish all provincial institutions, will they calmly sit down and count the cost ? When nearly all men of standing in the country neglect politics — think provincial politics simply contemptible — they are simply assisting to ruin themselves and families, for we should say that " institutions" which managed to. spend nearly Ten Millions Sterling in Eleven Years, are neither petty nor contemptible. It is only when we come to look at the expenditure in the aggregate that we are struck with the magnitude of the question ; and it is only then one can really understand why those who have had the " administration" or spending of this money still cling vulture-like to the expiring institutions whilst there is a prospect of even a carrion feast.