THE NATIONAL DEBT. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 107, 7 May 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE NATIONAL DEBT. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir— New Zealand is like the proverbial Highlandman's gun, it requires a now stock, lock, and barrel. The burning question of the hour is what steps do the Government intend to take to relieve the oolony from the cloud of depression which has hung over it for years. Any person travelling through the country cannot fail to be struck at the hand-to-mouth existenoe which the settlers aro leading. With the low price of our produots the national debt becomes a white elephant. For generations to come this colony must romain in a state of hopeless insolvency, and the people a povertystrickon community, unless steps are taken to avert it. The debt jb beyond tho power of the community to pay, and is too large for the population to bear. I believe that the time must come when the people will agitate for annexation to the United States on certain conditions, for I do not believe that thoy will be content to lead a hand to mouth exiatenco for generations to come. As time goes on, the prospects of tho colony get poorer and poorer. Tho United States is rich, prosperous, and powerful, and the temptation to annex ourselves is sure to como sooner or later, unless we can see our way clear to pay off the debt without keeping the population sunk in poverty for generations to come. I am, &c, Traveller. [Wo are sorry to find any New Zealand colonist writing in this strain. — Ed. E.P.I