THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1000.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11365, 7 May 1900, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1000.

Is T the course of his speech at Wellington on Friday evening Mr. Seddon touched upon some matters of colonial importance, not the least of which was the gratifying condition of the public revenue. The occasion was one upon which the Premier may fairly bo congratulated. It was a social held to celebrate the seventh anniversary of his Premiership. This is a tenure of office which no previous Premier has ever equalled. The nearest approach to it is the case of Mr. Stafford, who held office continuously from 1856 to 1861. Mr. Seddon became Premier in 1893, and has continued in that position ever since, thus eclipsing by two years all former records. We doubt whether the Ministerial annals of any of the sister colonies can furnish a similar example of Ministerial longevity. It constitutes a striking proof of Mr. Seddon's exceptional qualities as a party leader, and of the force and vitality of his popularity with the people. Public favour is proverbially fickle, and is prone to tire soon of its idols; but in Mr. Seddon's case it has remained singularly constant. This is probably due as much to the character of the man himself as to the political principles with which he is identified. His personal magnetism, his indomitable energy and capacity for work, his intuitive readiness in reading the signs of the time and interpreting the changing moods of public opinion, and a certain courageous statesmanship have largely contributed to Mr. Seddon's popularity. He has, too, been wonderfully favoured by fortuitous circumstances, for his seven years of office have been seven fat years, succeeding seven lean ones. In periods of prosperity, when the condition of trade is good and employment is not hard to find, political discontent lies dormant. The favourable state of things is commonly attributed to the party in power, which never hesitates to lay the flattering unction to its soul. Few, if any, political parties can stand the test of prolonged depression. And we are glad that there is no prospect of the present dominant party being exposed to that experience, for the indications all round are that the colony is in an

exceedingly, healthy.; and flourishing condition. The revenue returns, as given by the Premier in the course of his speech, are eminently satisfactory. There has ■ been a substantial increase under all heads with only one exception. Customs shows an increase of £142,549; stamps, £81,499; and railways,. £156,106. Land and income tax, which was expected to show a decrease of £8533, has actually increased by more than that amount.' In anticipating a fall-ing-off in this source of revenue, the Treasurer was guided by the fact that the land tax on several large estates purchased last year by the Government would not be available this year, and that it had been found that the mortgage tax on the a&nmon fund of the Public Trust office was not payable. * Further, from other causes which he did not specify, he did not'expect the income tax to exceed that of list year. These anticipations, however, have turned out to be erroneous, for this head of revenue has resulted in a. large increase. The actual receipts from all sources of revenue for the year amounted to £5.699,617, and the actual expenditure to £5,140,127, leaving a balance of £559,490, or £319,219 more than was estimated. The available surplus, according to Mr. Seddon's methods of finance, amounts to £605.351, arrived at as follows: — £ £ Balance at beginning of year 195,861 Less transfer to P.W. fund 450,000 . , ■ — 45,861 Income during year 5,699,617 Expenditure 5,140,127 Excess revenue 559,490 Total available surplus £605,351 These figures , afford gratifying proofs of the elasticity of trade and the prosperous condition of the colony generally. But a curious tiling about all the big surpluses which the present Treasurer has been able to show is that no one seems to be any the better for them. Taxation is not reduced, nor are many urgent public works advanced. Districts are still left roadless, and the educational requirements of country localities in respect of school buildings remain unheeded, We hope that this year the Treasurer will be able to show that his surplus .is capable of being applied to lightening the burdens of taxation. _ Mr. Seddon's reference to federation was on the lines of his previous utterances on this question. We entirely endorse his remarks regarding the grave injustice that would be done to the colonies by depriving them of the right of appeal to the Privy Council. It is exceedingly doubtful, however, whether the Commonwealth Bill is now likely to be amended in any of the directions desired by Mr. Seddon, though it is becoming clear that even if it is allowed to pass the Imperial Parliament without any material amendments, provision will be made by the Imperial Government for enabling litigants in the colonies to carry their cases to an Imperial Court. Nor is it of much use now lamenting the Samoan agreement. That is an accomplished fact, and we must accept it and endeavour to make the best of the new situation. It is no doubt true, as Mr. Seddon points out, that there is a danger to New Zealand through a foreign country having been vested with absolute power in Samoa, but it is, we tru it, a remote danger, and one, inoreov—, that the Imperial Government is nit likely to have overlooked or to have left unprovided for in their schem.i of Imperial defence. With regard to the decision of the Government to send £5000 to assist the sufferers by the fire at Ottawa, we do not desire to express any opinion until we are in possession of full particulars of the extent of the disaster and the urgency of the assistance required. The feelings, however, which have prompted the action of the Government are no doubt commendable, but at the same time there is a danger of creating a precedent which may at some time expose the colony to invidious comparisons or tempt it to incur expenditure in relieving distress in distant parts of the Empire which must interfere with pressing duties near home. Having contributed from the public funds to provide for the necessities of the sufferers by the conflagration in Canada the Government can scarcely refuse to lend a willing ear to the appeal that is being made on behalf of the starving peasants of India. We are by no means sure, either, that the method which the Premier is in the habit of adopting of ascertaining the views of members of Parliament by telegraph is either judicious or constitutional, for these views must often be given on the spur of the moment, and on imperfect information.