Mr Dibbs on the Colonies.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6405, 28 June 1892, Page 2

Mr Dibbs on the Colonies.

London, .June 11 J Mr Dibbs, in a letter to the Times, s.-iys * the advancement of the colonies during the last ten or twen y years has beou of the most substantial and solid progress discernible. No public man of any cmi- • nence had yet proved guilty of malversion, reticence, or confusion in regard to the x public accounts, and there Ims never been ' any fault to find in connection with the l financial administration of any of the ' colonies. The present system of keeping accounts is the least open to objection ' that could be taken to the way in which r the finances were administered. Mr Dibbs c contends that the object of the railways in tho colonies in not so much to secure € return in the shape of interest on the * money sunk, but t» settle the people on the land and push the sales of inland c country. This is the true standard to T judge of the etficiency and honesty of the a administration. He regards the unsold * lands in New South Wales as wortk 12a 6d l per acre. Signs were not wanting in [ England to show that State manage- c menb of the railways with all its draw- \ backs was preferable to the present sys- f (cm. He says it is impossible for him to * believe that the day when New South l Wales railways will return full interest chh be far distant, and is of opinion the * London market will continue to invest in •- Australia where good return and ample \ aeourity can be obtained. c