The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1880. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 269, 12 June 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1880. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

A tnsw days ago we t >ok occasioi to jcf'.-J,-to the Premier's speech, saying that it was devoid of all information concerning the policy 0 "of his Government," and that we might"prepare ourselves for surprises. The i great surprise with which the Public Wnskff received, and the unanimous it met with, has doubtless created it-yearning in the breast of the present Colonial reasnrer for a share, at least, of th<i popularity that the originator of tha' great scheme Major At kiuson has kept his, 'pet scheme for estab lishing a Public Works Board, with all the. advantages he had conjured up, in his own niirftf, as, in his ouinion, it was too gre*t a discoveiy to be made known to the world before the prober time. Now that it ha 8 ben disclosed as the only trump card he holds, it may bo summed up in a few words. The great mountain, after heavy pain and labor, has only brought forth a mouse. On.- thing is plain now, that the leading thimble-rigger has shown his hand in a way that he did not intend to. Mr Hall has persistently refused to show he written contract made with the Auckland rats, but we see in the Treasurer's proposal to introduce two. Local Government. Bills a most injurious scheme for sp> nding the money drawn from the Middle Island in the Auckland district. The Treasurer proposes a Boaid of Public to take charge of certain funds.and to distribute the funds to the various counties and road districts in the colony. Where is this Board to obtain funds to distribute I From the sale of lands in the Middle Island ? Now, mark the. next feature of Bill No I—lt id that each district is to be empowered to rate itself to the extent of 2s in the £, or more in spec'al cases, and they are to have unlimited borrowing powers. These are great the Treasurer thinks. Now, let us see what would be the consequences resulting from this unlimited power to borrow. A meeting of ratepayers is called ; a stump orator would have no difficulty in nerauading the ratepayers that it would be to their advantage to go in for borrowing largely. It would give employment to the working men, and, by rating property owners, it would command a certain amount of sub sidy from the Boards of Works' funds. Here is a ban thrown out to working men with a vengeance. Property owners are thrown into the Lands of the populace, who can borrow" money, an 1 strike a rat* of 2s in the £, to secure >\ share of mo:.e\ drawn from land sales h«ld at their own doors. However much we may wish to better the condition of the working classes we hope to be delivered from this form of oppression. Unlimited borrowing power would be found to he the greatest curse thf.t could be 'inflicted on an industriou 8 Community. Taxing is the only sehem e Major Atkinson it capable, of devising to deliver us out of our difficulties. This proposal, if it left the district to consume its own land revenue, would he a plausible scheme ; but this brings us to another feature in the B'll: All lanes, • public or private, are to be rated, excepting 11,000,000 acres of land belonging to Maoris. Go, vernment lands are to be rated to the ex. tent of 6d in the £, but Maori lands are to be free. Now, observe that the in the North Island, are to receive a share of this Public Works Fund, which will be mainly derived from the' sale of waste lands in the Middle Island. By rating themselves Is in the £ the Piako Swamp swindlers, and other land-sharks who have cheated the Natives out of their land for a trifle, will be able to make roads and bridges through their lands at the expense of the Middle-Island. This is a very ingenious way to f ulf ul the agreement made with the Auckland members. It is also a cunningly-devised scheme for securing the support of the North Island members. Al. though we cannot credit the Premier with straightforward dealing, we admit his capability for scheming and intrigue in the interest of his friends. After being dmined of itvFund to mnke military roads in the North, the Middle Island is expected to make roads and bridges through cheaply purchased lands in the North Island, and that after we have made our own roads and bridges. We hope the Middle Island members will make a determined aguinst| this iniquitous Bill. We have a Property Tax arid a duty on almost every article, and now we are asked to rate ourselves 3h in the £. No better way could have been devised to ruin the coiintry.and cause every man to realise on his property and clear out. The Government, in stopping public works, are driving the stalwart laborer to seek a new home. Now, ihe Treasurer proposes a Bcheme for unlimited borrowing and rating, enough to rum a stronger colony than ours What will Sir Julius Vogel think 7of his pupil proposing such a scheme, which is the reverse of his —brought forward to consolidate all loins We regret that the Government intend to onfoice the Property Assessment A( t,with modifications that will reduce the amount collected to about L 40.000 A Land and an Income Tax is an equitable and easier collected tax, and it would also bring iri a larger revenue ; but the Hall policy is to protect friends, and crush the industrious

small Holders We hope Sir, George Grey will be ably in his endeavors to iepd.il the Property Tax, and we trust th it a copy'of t; lv » : evolutions passed last Monday will be f rwaided-in time, so as to strengthen his hands ' Our member, although asked to vote with him. dare not do so, as he would offend Mr Hall The Treasurer's stateineht" that he intended to pay alhliabih'fiV'B,"'f«'rid'b'?sin'''ahew', is like the man who wanted nis creditor'to burn his books, so-ae-tfrwippold-debts; and- lethim, begin a ew again The Treasurer puts aside a debt amounting to nearly a quarter i of a million till a future day, atid says he will begin, again, with L42,ooo'This specimen of Major Atkinson's financing is a gem. One,! . redeeming . feature ii the Financial Statement is that the tea and BiVgar duties will not be imposed. ;To our mind so much direct taxation is not required In the Statement is a proposed expenditure of over L204,000t0r buildings Surely a great reduction could be made in this item, and if the Ministry win deduct 20 per cent off all salaries (includii.g their own), a considerable saving would he th" result. Saving, not taxing, ought to he the study of the Government, but their policy is to save with one hand, and to scatter with the other.