THE Marlborough Express. SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1879.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIV, Issue 1120, 29 March 1879, Page 5

THE Marlborough Express.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1879.

" Givk me the liberty to know, to utter, and to arcnie reely according to conscience, above all other liberties —Mxltos.

There are some political ravens who arc always croaking over the dismal condition —from their point of view—of New Zealand’s Finance. The pension-hunting patriot who edits the Wellington Times is a bird of this kind ; the Hon. Mr Waterhouse is another, and lately we observe that the Venerable Archdeacon Thorpe has joined the tribe, and has been preselling from the pulpit—where of course lie .aid it all his own way—to the same effect. The Nev; Zealander took the Archdeacon to task for this in an ably-written article in its issue of the Btli inst. The Venerable preacher’s argument is that the construction of railways for political purposes is fast bringing the colony to financial destruction ! This, our contemporary says, is untrue, and quotes facts and figures to prove ii in the following terms : “ We find that last yeai’ there were open a thousand miles of railway, and that the total expenditure on the lines was put down at seven millions sterling. The income in the last Financial Statement was shown at £550,000. The estimate for the present financial year is £710,000. For the half-year ending December 31, we notice that the receipts amount to no less than £309,000, against £225,000 for the corresponding period of the previous year. Allowing the usual increase for the second half of the year, which includes the grain season, the total receipts for railways in the present year are likely to reach £BOO,OOO, or £90,000 in excess of the estimate at the beginning of the year. Estimating the same proportion of expenditure to receipts as of the previous year, though we are told the ratio of expenditure to income is decreasing, we find that the railways in the present year will actually pay four per cent, on the cost of construction oyer and above working expenses !” These are certainly most satisfactory returns, and completely demolish the clerical raven’s lugubrious predictions. So far it may be safely stated that all the railways constructed in the colony—political or what other title may be applied to them—are paying fairly well, and as they become extended will pay still better. Moreover it is not only the direct revenue derived from a railway which should be taken into consideration. It is the important part they play in the opening up and settlement of the country, which is their most important feature. Directly a line is made, new townships spring up alongside of it, old ones increase, and land rises in value. Take our local line as an example. In its unfinished state it pays six per cent over expenses, as can be seen from the monthly returns, and will any one say that if it were extended to the Awatere it would not be still more reproductive, and tend to the opening of a rich and fertile district, which is now practically locked up ? There is only, in our opinion, one projected line, which it would be as well not to carry out, and that is the Nelson and Christchurch railway by way Of the West Coast. The smartness of the Nelson members and the simplicity of the Marlborough Representatives, who allowed themselves to be “ sold ” in the matter, led to this railway being inserted amongst the projected lines, and had Archdeacon Thorpe confined his remarks to this particular work, they would

not perhaps have been much out of place, but when lie lays clown the proposition that the country is going to the clogs on account of its political railways, we cannot agree with him, and the facts and figures above quoted, we venture to think, ought to convince any rational being that the returns from the Constructed Railways of New Zealand are most satisfactory. Should there be a deficiency in the revenue this year it will be attributable to other causes, and will be easily made up by such a scientific adjustment of taxation as shall make any necessary burden which may have to be imposed fall upDii the shoulders of those well able to bear it.

Gun Telegrams seem to indicate a difference of opinion and possible change in the personnel of the Ministry, but the information given is so scant that we feel persuaded that some messages have failed to reach us. and there having been no mail from Wellington for some days, we are quite in the dark and unable to form any opinion on the merits of the case.