GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 65, 8 May 1869, Page 3

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES

(To tjie Editor of the TuappJea Times.)

Sra, — In a leader which appeared recently in your paper-^I am not certain in which number — you attack the Government for not making" efforts to have the municipality subsidy continued at £2 for £1. Now, sir, I thiuk this subsidising policy has not received the amount of attention it deserves, and 1 trust you will permit me to state what I consider fatal objections to its continuance.

Subsidies are supposed ro he granted to young and impoverished districts, in order to aid their progress, and were they confined to such places, a tolerably good case might be m.ule out in tlu:ir favour. But can the iiolds be referred to this class, when it is a well-known and generally-admitted fact that they contribute more to the Provincial and colonial Treasuries than most other districts of double their population ? The subsidy is not, then, in this case an assistance, but simply the return of a portion of the money drawn by Government from these districts. It is a clumsy contrivance for diminishing taxation, which- is only remarkable for the facilities it oilers for creating snug billets for faithful partizans. The expense of collection Is always a considerable item in a budget, and by the subsidising principle we have it increased to a most unconscionable extent. First, the local rates are collected, separately ; then the two G-overmnents collect their taxes ; and in each case the collectors have to be handsomely remunerated, and the larger the amounts, the larger the percentage thus absorbed. Now, sir, it is clear that a much larger waste of public money takes place than there is any need fur ; in facfc, at present. Grovernment taken from us with two hands and returns with one. Our municipalities, hospitals, and libraries are propped up with crutches, and the liberality of the community is repressed by the present pernicious system. " What's the use of giving more to the hospital ? " saj r s the subscriber of £1 who, under pther

circumstances, would be ashamed of the smallness of his donation. . "What's, tbe use.Qf giving more?., my.subscription is equal to £4." A valuable institution like the hospital is robbed by the present System ; and even if. it might be fourid. necessary to supplement the subscriptions, a local rate could be more cheaply collected, and more accessible than the present sub--sidy, which is o'rily obtained after an unpleasantly great' amount of worrying has befcu infli ted on- the Government. Take the municipalities, again, and observe how the spirit of enterprise is destroyed "by the present system. A new, road has to be made, "or a flew building his to be erected, and instead of buckling to the work like gobd 'uns, the village magnates commence a piteous whine to Government for assis'talice. They have no confidence, apparently, in their own abilities, and seem to" consider the public purse a convenience specially created for their use. Of Athenanims the same may be said, perhaps to even ft greater exfpnt. Now, sir, I contend that unless the townships attd libr'ariestare self-supporting their continued existence is a farce: they have no further raison d'etre. The experiment haa been a cofitly one, and the result has been a growth of sickly weeds, without enterprise or any good quality. They have trusted to the Government crutch so long that they become crippled, and unless speedily placed under a severe regimen, will become hopelessly paralized, - Reduce taxation by abolishing the subsidising system, 'and local rates will cease to be a burthen, and the high expenses of collection reduced, the cost of transmission saved. Let all public institutions understand that it is no use howling for aid from Government whenever their wheels get clogged in a rut, but that they, must depend entirely on their own skill and energy. The proper duties of a Government seem poorly understood in this province, where the ruling body resembles the genilemanly highwayman of a century ago, who, after relieving his victim of a considerable sum, would generously throw back a pound or two for "necessary expenses?'

I have f-'ua briefly opened up the subject, and trust it may receive an exhaustive discussion. Neither my time nor the limits of your paper allow me to enter minutely into the matter, but I trust abler hands' than mine will continue the examination. — T am, &c., AIiGUS.

Lawrence, May 3, LSQ9.