PAYING FOR PATRIOTISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXV, Issue 255, 26 November 1903, Page 2

PAYING FOR PATRIOTISM.

Wo claim to have just as most patriotism as most people, and liave tho very deepest reverence for the memory of her late Majesty Queen Victoria, whose will go down to future generations as " Victoria the Good.''' Yet we cannot apiireaiate the spirit which prompted the Premiei' in pressing through the House of Representatives a vote of £15,000, as New Zealand's contribution towards tho cost of the memorial in HondJoJn to ,her late Majesty Queen Victoria." It can hardly be that the electors of this colony will allow this vote without some protest or show of dissatisfaction, though such protest can do nothing, toprovent this squandering of ]>ublic funds, but it would be as well to show our representatives in the Legislature that there are other and more legitimate uses for public moneys which are trust funds. We raise no objection to the erection of a suitable memorial to our late beloved Sovereign, but protest strongly against the mainner of olitaining iunds therefor. By .oluntary contribution New Zealand has already dona her share in this matter, and only cheerful giving can b« asked in such a caso as this. But that hardly suits our democratic Premier, who must needs advertise our "loyalty " and "patriotism" by sending out of our colony the huge vote of £15,000 for this memorial, regardless of the fact that even were the oeLion justifiable, the amount voted is far beyond the means of the colony. The Premier has sounded the cry of " Steady " in regard to expenditure on public works which would be directly reproductive and o'f immense benefit to the colony. Fifteen thousand pounds. Just fancy a vote of that magnitude for tho formation or metalling of, say, the Moid or the Ohura Road. Would not the settlers in these almost isoluted districts jump for joy if they received the infb|nuiati,on of such a windfall ? Fifteen thousand pounds would do much more good if epent on the Stratford-Ongaruhe railway or on the ballast line to Mt. Egmont than in erecting this costly monument. Were other colonies follof.ving suit it would not be so bad, but we have not the slightest reason for thinking such to tie the case, whilst we know that at Homo the original enthusiasm lias dwindled away. This is, of course, much to 1* re|g)retted and anything bui. a credit to the people of the United Kingf3o3n. At tho same time, if Mr Seddon was determined to spend money in a memorial to our lute Queen he could have found a way of perpetuating her moruory by a judicious expenditure of the money in the colony.