THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3688, 20 October 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1880.

As an instance of how muob members of the House of Representatives really know of the financial position of the colony, and. what nonsense they occasionally speak, we refer our readers to the remarks made by Mr Saunders in his address to his constituents. The gentleman is member for Cheviot, and has been in the House for years, being said to be the nominee of a large landed proprietor; he is a frequent speaker, and a staunch supporter of the present Government. Yet With every means of securing the most reliable information, hn tells his constituents that he "feared the colony might hare to repudiate her debts," in fact follow the example of Turkey or some of the effete and worn but States of older countries. Such a statement coming from a member of Parliament to do immense harm, and is sure to be taken advantage of by the enemies of the colony, or those inclined to speak and write against it. The hon. member evidently puts little dependence upon the statements made by the Colonial Treasurer who, even while in opposition, and when he might be forgiven for putting the worst face on the financial position, never went the length of saying the colony would not be able to pay its debts. Many speakers in the House tried last session to picture a gloomy future for the colony, but none went so far as the member for Cheviot has thought fit to in his address to the 150 people who form his constituency. The colony is deeply in debt we are well aware, but to insinuate that its income is insufficient to pay the interest upon the money borrowed,; and to keep up its. ordinary expenditure is not speaking the truth, but uttering a calumny. Some few days ago we gave the receipts from the various sources of revenue for the past few months, and in each department the amounts were larger than anticipated by the Colonial Treasurer; and when such is the case at the present time, which is acknowledged a time of-, depression, there is little to fear when the reaction sets in, and the retrenchment policy of the Government is fully felt, and the more economical management of the various departments decreases the annual expenditure; Mr Saunders says he does not wish to be considered an alarmist, but we say he is not only that, but worße—a caluminator of his country, an utterer of statements which he knows, or ought to know, are false, and are calculated to injure and defame tho taxpayers and inhabitants of this colony. The colonists of .Mew Zealand are not of a race to repudiate their just debts. Their fathers never were 'ashamed to look honest men in the face, nor will the children do ought to|bring disgrace upon the race and the country they spring from. Let our legislators show that more taxes are required to meet their engagements, and no matter how heavy may be the burden, a cheerful response will come from the people, who though they may blame their rulers for. want of discretion in borrowing and spending public money, will never allow recourse to be had to repudiation. ". '. ' .