MR. BRYCE'S ADDRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8385, 13 October 1890, Page 3

MR. BRYCE'S ADDRESS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—There are soma stern facts laid bare in Mr. Bryce'a address, one of which deserves more than a mere momentary consideration. It is where he points out thab between permanent appropriation (including interest payable) and revenue there is such a narrow margin as to leave scarcely any option for the colony ; almost certain increase of taxation, borrowing the other alternative ; and under existing: circumstances, perhaps fortunately for us, the London financiers appear to be satiated for the present with colonial loans. But there is another alternative, which Mr. Bryce, like many of our best public men, appears to be unwilling to tackle ; but will notwithstanding have to be faced and dealt) with. I allude to the permanent appropriations, which are distinctly unconstitutional, and ought to be all repealed. Unless this is done, the heads of our overgrown civil service can set the taxpayers ut defiance, as they have already done on similar occasions. They, the heads of the civil service, and real de facto rulers of the colony, can refuse to be cut down, or reduced, can and will claim that their emoluments shall be kepb up, whether the colony can bear the load or no; in fact, it may be safely asserted that the colony cannot bear the burden. Whoever is elected to the new Assembly this question con scarcely be ignored, and it is to be hoped that Mr. Bryce will, if elected, look seriously into ib. I read the last paragraph of Mr. Bryce's address with very deep regret. We havo few public men who have such a straight record as he—we can ill (lord to lose their services ; and while believing , the electors of Waipa will again choose Mr. Bryce, I maintain that if for any reason they decided otherwise, it need not, and ought, not, be the cause of Mr. Bryce's retirement permanently into private life.—l am, etc., October 11, 1890. F.C.