THE FINANCES OF CHINA

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4425, 3 August 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE FINANCES OF CHINA

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM WANTED. A study of the lucid report which Mr George Jamieson 'wrote upon Chinese revenue and expenditure, five years ago, may inspire conviction that what is really needed is reform —and reform only—to enable China to meet her obligations without subjecting the people to additional taxation they might hard, ly endure. It is questionable whether such a complex and wasteful system as Mr Jamieson describes could bo reformed by native agency alone. The opposition would be too great, and confidence in beneficial results from simplification wanting. The Oriental idea is tp multiply taxes. An English financier would begin by reducing and abolishing many of the imposts, while endeavouring to systematise the collection of the rest. That is the procedure which Mr Mitchell-Innes adopted in Siam, with the effect of. demonstrating that half the number of taxes could be made more productive than the whole. But support as cordial as that which the King of Siam afforded would be necessary to achieve similar results in the great Yiceroyalties which' exceed Siam in area and population as they might be made to exceed her in resources and power. Questioned a fortnight ago by Mr Yerburgh as to the willingness of the Government to assist Liu Kun-yi and CJiang Chi-tung in introducing REFORMS within their own province, and guarantee them freedom from interference, Mr Balfour replied in terms that fail to carry conviction of purpose or discernment of needs. “The" development of China and its opening to foreign trade” are superficial expressions of desiderata which can only be attained by reform. Likin can be dispensed with only i n condition of fiscal reform. The chief obstacle to the development of trade in the multiplicity of exactions that can ■be got rid. of only through _ drastic change. It is a common saying that all the bamboos grown in China would not make pens enough to describe the iniquities of the salt collectorate, and the analogy of India suggests that the land tax ought to yield several times the amount which the Board of Revenue at Pekin professes to receive. That the local officials receive salaries so small that they must peculate to live is now pretty generally realised. Colonels of regiments grow rich by keeping 260 men while drawing pay for 500; and no Chinese official would care to undertake, or be allowed probably to carry out, the drastic changes which the cleansing of such an Augean stable implies. A FALSE CHARGE of some kind would he laid against him and the collective influence of Pekin placemen exerted to sustain it and procure his dismissal. Those who still entertain hopes for the future well-be-ing of the Empire base them on the condition that help, support, and encouragement shall be given to enlightened and well-disposed officials before it is too late. Let it be repeated that our policy of centralisation has been little successful. The reed which we leaned upon has pierced our hand. If we are earnest in desiring the integrity and prosperity of China, let us take some practical steps to secure the end. The confidence which prompted the Viceroy of Nanking to invite our effective co-operation nine months ago has been strengthened, it is believed, rather than lessened by the good behaviour of our soldiers and the discretion of our officials on the spot. It is believed that both he and Chang Chi-tung ar e disappointed at the omission from the preliminary demands of a clause insisting on administrative reform. Let us take advantage of these favourable dispositions to help them to set an example to the capital,, and to create in the region under their control a leaven that may eventually permeate the mass.—“ Saturday Review.”