The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1867.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2021, 13 June 1867, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1867.

•It is a matter of some satisfaction to: 'observe that a feeling is gradually spreading in. favour of alteration in the present division of the revenue between the General and the Provincial Governments. According to our telegraphic intelligence of yesterday the Superintendent of Wellington, in closing the late session of the Council of that Province, hinted at the possibility of the apportionment of a larger share of these revenues to the Provinces. It is difficult for us to discover the grounds of opposition to such an arrangement on the part of any save the immediatedependents of the General Government.

Most of our readers will remember the extraordinary and lavish expenditure which came to light rather more than a year ago, when it was discovered that the officials created under three different schemes for dealing with the Maoris and their affairs were all receiving salaries-from the General Government, whilethebestthat could be hoped of their labours was that they were ■ doing nothing. Indeed it was all but impossible that they could b'e at work, without counteracting one another, and involving the difficult relations between the colonists and the natives in yet further and more inextricable confusion. The successive ministries which have followed each other with such rapidity have no doubt left similar memorials of their existence in the other departments of the Government service. Every new plan which was taken up was sure to call some new office into existence. And it would be felt to be a very invidious task to dispense with the officer and his salary when a new Govern-

ment came into power. Only with great reluctance, and under considera-

ble pressure, would any such thing be done. It is on this account that we urge the propriety of taking the decided step of reducing the means at the Government's disposal, and leaving it to them to discover the wisest and safest means of reducing their expenditure. This is what we consider to be but fair to the Ministry, and best for the public service. With the revenue accruing from stamps, and the Bteady increase of the Customs revenues, it may be confidently assumed that the reduction of the General Government's share of the revenue, from five-eighths to one-half, would not be so great as to entail any iuconvem'ence upon the.public service, or to interfere iu the slightest degree with its efficiency. On the other band, nothing can be more apparent than the need which exists that as large a share as possible of the colonial revenues should be die-

tributod among the Provinces for their more pressing local wants. In soma instances this will be found the only means for enabling them to meet the liabilities which they- have already incurred ; in others, it will be a very welcome aid in the prosecution of public works. With the exception of Otago, the Provinces have shewn a decided inclination to economise their expenditure; and it is to the last degree improbable that any portion of the additional income which we hope to see handed over to them will be devoted to any other than really important purposes. "When the General Assembly meets we trust that a thorough understanding will be come to regarding the extent to which the limitation of the General Government's share of the revenues will be carried.

fothing would be more injurious than she attempt to press it too far and at once, unless a timid submission to the will of the Ministry in yielding it altogether. It may be assumed as a matter of course that those in office will resist such a reduction of departmental expenditure as this scheme necessarily implies. But this iB little more than Baying that the proposition we now make is by no means directed against the present Ministry, or intended to hamper their measures. Its object is rather to secure such a reduction of expenditure as iB indispensably necessary in the present state of the colony, and to strengthen the position of the Ministry in carrying it into effect, by reasonable pressure from without.