The Thames Star. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1902. NATIONAL EXPENDITURE.

Thames Star, Volume XXXX, Issue 10499, 21 November 1902, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1902. NATIONAL EXPENDITURE.

Sincere friendis of the Government of this coloiny, equally withi those opposed to Mr Seddon, ar© found directing attention to the great increase in the expenditure of .late years. Last session exceeded all previous records, a quarter of a million being voted for the North" Island Trunk railway. The same faulty might have been found with all the Australian States during many years past, although not with all of them at the present time. Victoria, after gaining notoriety for lavish expenditure of public money, is now going to ' the other extreme and vigorously cutting down expenditure in all directions.. The comment? of a London daily r<*ftinds us that the colonies axe not alone in the matter of an increasing expenditure of public funds, for the same may be said of Greait Britain. The journal says: "There is one respect, at any rate, in which the old country does not stand still. We may in other things have fallen behind, but in our rate of expenditure we have advanced by leaps and bound's. 'Sir Henry Fowld's Return,' as it is called, enables v* to compare the net income and expenditure of to-day withi those of twenty years ago. The comparison shows a.n increai-e of revenue (in round numbers) from 74 millions to 127, and of expenditure from 73 millions to 179. . The p'riesfanlt excess of 'expenditure over revenue is, of course, due to' the wot, largely paid for by loan), and the waa- is responsible also for much of the swelling in expenditure. In the year 1881-2 war services cost under 2J millions; in the year 190T-2, they cost nearly 70. But leaving out war charges, we are still confronted with huge increases. The Army costs 29 millions, instead of 15 ; the Navy, 30 millions instead! of 10; the Civil Services, 24 instead.of 15. Necessary increases they may all be. As the functions of the State widens in domestic affairs the cost necessarily grows. And as for Army andi Navy, the rate of national insurance rises, it may be, with the value of the national assets and the increase of foreign risks. Thait the wealth of the country is great, that its taxable capacity keeps pace with it, may be judged from the figures of revenue. It is remarkable that we should be able to bear, witihi so little sense of strain, an increase of Cu'-toms duties during twenty years from 19 millions to nearly 31, and of income tax from 10 millions to 35. But where is it to end 1 And—a question even more urgent—are w? sure that full moneys worth has been obtained for the huge increase in expenditure? Ha,ve we not come too much to think that increase in spending is of itself increase: in strength; and too much to forget that efficiency and economy (in the proper sense of that term) go hand in hand?" The very same queiy may be made of our Colonial Treasurer, has efficiency and economy gone hand in hand? There is a Very general impression that economy has not been exercised im all 1 gases. Iti is, hiotwev&r, very easy to find fault, and is usually a pleasant task, but due consideration is notl always given to the circumstances. In a* new country, and especially in : New Zealand, where so much requires doing, in opening the country by roads andl railways, and where members of Parliament are so clamourtfU'V Ministers of the Crown ha.ye"a very difficult task and no doubt often against their own judgment, are driven to expend sums of money on public works in order to secure a little peace and 1 quietness. Members of Parliament in their turn in order to secure the same ends', and to curry favor with their constituents, insist on an expenditure which, were they left untrammelled, they would not countenance. Thus fault finders should look for the real culpritsamomsr the people, and blame that, insatiable greed for the expenditure of public momey which is ai predominant characteristic of almost all sections of colonists.