The Press THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1920. A Long Overdue Reform.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16881, 8 July 1920, Page 6

The Press THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1920. A Long Overdue Reform.

It is fifty years since Sir Julius Vogel, then Mr Vogel, startled the colony by bringing down his famous Budget in which he outlined a scheme for borrowing 10 millions sterling in ten years for public works and immigration. Of this sum 7} millions, he proposed, should bo spent in building 1500 miles of railway, . including a North. Island main trunk line and a line from Picton to Bluff. At that time the public debt of the colony was seven millions, and it can well be imagined that the Budget caused a larger sensation than any Budget that has since appeareci. The speech, of the Treasurer is well worth reading, for it contains much that will to-day be thought curious and interesting, although for most people, perhaps, the most. interesting fact that can be stated concerning it is that the, South Island Main Trunk line is still uncompleted, and there is still a gap between Nelson and Greymcftith. "Wo recall tho Budget to-day, however, for the purpose of reminding the descendants of the readers of "The Press" of that time of our comments upon one particular featuro of Mr Vogel's plan. In bur first article on the Budget wo took exception to the idea that the expenditure z of the money should be, as was pro-

posed, in the hands of the, Government, subject to application being made by Provincial Superintendents. "The provinces," we said, "will bring pressure *' to- bear on the Government to have " works undertaken on their behalf; "and the Government will be under a "perpetual inducement to-direct their "operations, not as is best for the " colony, but as is most calculated to " secure public support. Every trans- " action will be conducted with an eye "to the probable gain or loss of votes. "The only way to get thoroughly rid " of this difficulty is to take the matter "out of the hands of the Government, "whether General or Provincial, alto- " gether." And we went on to suggest that the expenditure of the development loans should be entrusted to "a "Board of Commissioners acting under " instructions from, and solely respon- " sible to, the General Assembly. Thg "Commissioners should be men of " standing and ability for their special "functions, but not connected with "politics. That is the essential point." Wo returned more fully to this question on July Bth, IS70 —exactly fifty years ago to-day—and we propose to quote an extract from our article:

"Every province will naturally bo eager to obtain as much of the ten millions as possible. Wo have had plenty of proof of that already; and the usual method for achieving 'its object will be freely resorted to.-- Logrolling will be practised on a larger scale than ever. Each province will join in helping a neighbour to a good thing on condition that it shall be helped in turn. Each will back the others' claims, however exorbitant, provided they iu return will back its own.

The degree of support accorded to tln» Government-by each batch of provincial representatives will depend on its willingness to consent to any expenditure desired by the province; and, on tho . other hand, • the readiness of the Government to spend money in the province - will bo proportioned to the amount of support that may bo expected from it. The mor-* influence a province can exert in the House of Representatives—the more voting power it possesses, and the greater tho unani- j mity amoii££ its members—the better it : will fare. Small districts, 'ike Taranaki j , or Marl through, will come off but middling Veil. Thev have only a ■ 'couple of votes eachj and the effects of displeasure are not .Much to be dreaded. But the case is very different v.it>, the large provinces. We should liV. to know what a Minister is to do if, on the eve of a critical division, the Superintendent, say, of Auckland, calls on him and, with a hint of the fifteen 1 T /Otas. which await the answer, requests ! +ii3t such and s-uch moneys, shall bo! forthwith expended on roads and rail- ! ways in Auckland. It is very well to argue that no work can be undertaken niuuuxt the consent of the Geueral

Government, and their consent will not I be piven unless they arc satisfied that the work is expedient and justified bv the means of the province. That is very well in theory, but how will it be in practice? In such a situation as we have just supposed, for instance, does , anyone imagine that the Minister's do- I fision would be impartial? Could he be reasonably expected to take an unbiassed view of the case, and to judge of it strictly on its merits?"' j What was true then is true to-day. The case for non-political control of the ' expenditure of development loans is as ; strong r.s ever; stronger, indeed, by fifty years' experience of the vices of political control. Xofcody dares to attempt a defence of the existing system to-day, yet it continues. What "The Press'' contended for fifty years ago is to-day generally supported. It is imposr»iblo to compute the injury the country has suffered from the operation oi an unsound theorr for so long. And the injury will continue while the system coniiues. If there is any sincerity in the professions of discontent with the present system that, mainly through our efforts in recent years, have come pretty freely from j members of Parliament, a first step ought to be taken this session in the direction of reform.