The Press. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1869.

Press, Volume XV, Issue 2064, 26 November 1869, Page 2

The Press. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1869.

Mr. Fox's policy is based on the supposition that the colony cannot defend itself, and therefore needs to be defended by Imperial troops. It also assumes that provision should be made for carrying on a war on a large scale extending over several years. We are called upon to admire the wisdom of the Assembly in assenting to this policy. And for what reason ? Because in two short months the Government have succeeded in restoring peace. An exquisite reason truly! To us this fact is quite enough to dispose of the policy altogether. But the more we examine it the more evident its unsoundness appears. For how has the restoration of peace been accomplished ? Because —so we are told by the friends of the Government —the example made to Titokowaru and Te Kooti has convinced the great bulk of the natives that, though they may prosecute war against the colony with advantage for a while, they are certain in the end to be overcome. But the successes which have produced this effect were achieved solely by the colonial forces assisted by the Native allies. What then becomes of the alleged necessity of employing Imperial troops? That the colony can defend itself successfully is a proved fact. The insurgents are thoroughly beaten, and the King Natives have been brought to sue for peace. Imperial troops are, therefore, clearly unnecessary. The colony can do without them, and the proposed expenditure in paying for 1000 men for five j years is a piece of causeless extravagance. The Commissioners, however, have another object in view, upon which the Government have preserved a discreet silence, though, doubtless, not considering it one of the least important. They are directed to obtain, if possible, the Imperial guarantee for a new loan. The Wellington Independent of the 11th instant, referring to this as " one of the objects contemplated by the Commissioners about to leave for London," mentions a precedent which it considers " most favourable." In the House of Commons on the sth of August last Mr Gladstone, in pursuance of an arrangement made with the previous Administration by the delegates sent home from Canada a year or two since, introduced a proposal for guaranteeing a loan of £800,000, to be spent in buying up the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company. "Any case," the Independent concludes by saying, " which these delegates were able to make could scarcely be stronger than that of New Zealand, and the precedent thus afforded ought materially to help Dr Featherston and Mr Bell in their efforts to obtain the promise of a guarantee to the loan, which, although staved off last session by the issue of Treasury Bills, can scarcely be delayed much longer." Few readers of the Press will be surprised to hear that a fresh loan is required, though it will be disagreeable news to those who fondly hoped that the accession to office of the Fox Ministry meant a reduction of expenditure and an escape from fresh taxation. The Independent gives no limit as to what sum Ministers propose to faise; we should imagine, considering the magnitude of the unfunded debt and the heavy outstanding liabilities that will come in for payment next year, not less than £1,000,000. At 5 per cent, a loan of £1,000,000 will entail an annual addition to the interest of the public debt of £50,000. "We offer no opinion at present as to the expediency or otherwise of this loan, but one thing is very clear, that with the prospect of such an increase to the public burdens no expenses should be incurred that can be avoided. Now supposing the Commissioners prevail on the Home Government to send the troops, of what use will they be ? They will not be required to fight, for (except the hunting down of Te Kooti, which Colonel McDonnell and the friendly natives will manage much better than regular soldiers could) there is no fighting to be done. The submission of Rewi and the King party removes all fear of a general rising; and for the suppression ol any little local outbreak we shall have the " other highly disciplined force " and the "demilitarised" constabulary organised by Inspector Branigan. Surely that will be amply sufficient. Had there been anything like such a force available last year Titokowaru's rebellion would have been very summarily crushed. The Imperial troops are evidently unnecessary to our defence; and if so, why should we go to the expense of obtaining them ? Why should the colony hamper itself with an undertaking to pay for 1000 men for five years —involving a tax upon its revenues of £40,000 a year, if charged at the rate of £40 a man, or as is much more likely, of £60,000 or £80,000. And this too at a time

when the only body of natives from whom danger was to be apprehended have voluntarily come to terms, when there is every hope of establishing permanent friendly relations, and when the liabilities of the colony are on the point of being increased by £50,000 a year. That we do not want the soldiers is plain; that we cannot afford to pay for them is equally certain. Is it too late to recall the Commissioners instructions and save the heavily burdened linances of the colony from this extra and needless load ?