The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, JULY 21,1870. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 128, 21 July 1870, Page 4

The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

Our Colonial Parliament is in the middle of a debate, the importance of which cannot be over-estimated. We refer to the Financial Statement of the Colonial Treasurer, by which it is proposed to borrow from six to seven millions of money for immigration purposes, and for the construction of large works of utility and public concern. Both of the latter are said by the Treasurer to be the means of reproduction. The former, by its contribution to the revenue, will reduce the amount of taxation which is now paid by each individual ; and the latter will open up the country for settlement, reduce the price of living, and enable us to bring our surplus stock to market at a cheap rate. This all looks very well on paper, as all paper calculations do. It is also a very good bait to go to the country on, and it is more than likely the various constituencies would first nibble and then bite at the tempting offer of the expenditure of large sums of money in their respective districts. The present labouring class of the population can not expect to reap much advantage from a scheme which the Government propose borrowing money and introducing labour to carry out. We presume the Colonial Treasurer intends to alter the law of supply and demand, so that in this instance a large increase in the labour market will not reduce the price of labour. Then, again, if a large number of people are introduced into the country, to be the means of relieving the present inhabitants of the heavy burden of taxation imposed upon them, it must not be forgotten that our liabilities are at the same time increased. Mr. Yogel says that both immigration and public worlcs are immediately reproductive. This may be so, and it may not. If the money is to be expended by irresponsible bodies, it will end in disaster, like the railway in Auckland, the Exhibition at Dunedin, the road at the other side of the Clutha River, opposite Clyde. These works were all projected when the provinces had more money

than they knew what to do with. If, on the other hand, the money is to be properly and judicially expended, it will be a general benefit, provided,, we do not pay too much for the acc^fiisiwetofcion. Not many members have yet taken any part in the discussion, but those who hav^e spoken have indicated alarm at the magnitude of the Treasurer's scheme, recommended a modification of it, in order to save a breakdown like that of Queensland, and advised that the matter should be remitted to the country. So far as the debate has proceeded, according to telegraphic information received up to the present time, we feel almost certain that there will be no absolute rejection of the scheme. There are several distinct bids in it for sectional votes, which, without doubt, will serve their purpose. The £200,000 for water supply is to catch the goldfields votes; the £50,000 a year to outlying districts is to catch the rural and agricul- j tural votes ; and the introduction of labour, in order to reduce the price of that commodity, is to catch the moneyed votes ; whilst the general public is to be caught in the general scramble for the general plunder. The only work embraced in the Treasurer's scheme which we know would be immediately reproductive, is the water supply for the goldfields, and, as Mr. Kynnersly wisely remarked, that amount is by far too smali. Throughout the whole scheme there is a careful avoidance of the great question of opening up the land for bona fide settlement. This is the question of all questions. Any scheme contemplating a system of immigration and public works and the borrowing of millions of money, which does not also go into the question of bona fide settlement for the people on a liberal scale, must fail in a lamentable manner. From Wellington, we learn that there are signs and whispers of a new land scheme for Otago. It was shadowed forth very recently by Mr. Stafford, when he expressed his belief in free selection, and said it was the only way to settle the land question. Well, it would certainly settle it for a time. Such descriptions of free selection as we have seen in this country would very soon hand over to the rich all the best land of the province, and the auriferous lands would soon pass from the State into the hands of private individuals. Free selection bypurcluise, has been tiied in Southland, and found wanting ; free selection in Canterbury has not induced immigration to that province. The Canterbury scheme of free selection, and purchase at a high price, has been condemned, whilst the Victorian and American schemes have been lauded by the London "Times" in several leading articles. There can be no doubt that free selection would be the best thing for the province of Otago, provided it was subject to occupation and improvement clauses before purchase. If our legislators keep these points prominently in view in framing a new Land Act for Otago, we believe they will do much to advance the material prosperity of the province.