Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, SEPTEMBERS, 1868.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 975, 5 September 1868, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, SEPTEMBERS, 1868.

In another column will be found a telegraphic summary of Mr. Hall's financial statement, as issued on Thursday morning last in an " Extra" to the Herald. The summary is in some respects obscure, particularly in the matter of figures, no set of which agree with the totals. In one case, indeed, £55,000 is parcelled out into sums exceediug £70,000. But the general principles of the financial policy of the Government are tolerably clear, and will be studied with special interest. Our speculation as to the views which would probably be enunciated iv this speech, has been to a large exteut realised. But, unfortunately, the Government does not see its way to any reduction in taxation. On the contrary it is apparent (although not so expressed in the telegram) that direct taxation must be the means whereby the Provinces will obtain their future revenues. True, the General Government propose to pay over 7s. per head of population, but this will be no very large sum — no more than is required for the purpose stated, viz., the support of gaols and police. So that the colonists of Zealand have before them the pleasant prospect of paying high customs duties, stamps, &c, and of also being called upon to contribute directly in aid of the treasury of the particular locality iv which they happen to reside. This, too, in addition to tolls and road rates, already, in some cases, falling heavily upon struggling settlers. This state of things is not, however, attributable to the Government now in office, or to auy other Government in particular. It is referable simply to the shameful fact that England, having by her agents forced the natives into war, has left a handful of colonists to fight the battle, and virtually abandoned them in the hour of their need. Ministers have now nothing before them but to make the best out of a very bad case. Whether they have done so — whether the pruning knife has been applied to the overgrown tree of officialdom — we are not iv a position to say. But the propositions for a dissolution of partnership between the General Government and the provinces, aud the institution of a separate purse for each, are decidedly good. In fact, no other course was open to Mr. Stafford and his colleagues. It will be seen from our telegram cf yesterday that Mr. Fox has given notice of motion condemning, the financial policy of the Government.