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LIMITATION OF WAR EXPENDITURF.

The following report is from the Wellington Independent of July 10 :— On the motion of the hon. the Premier, the House went into committee, Mr O'Rorke in the chair, to consider the following resolutions : — (1) That, in the opinion of this Mouse, the existing expenditure on the colonial forces is altogether beyond tbe financial resources of the colony, and thnt it is impossible to continue the same consistently with the maintennnce of the public credit. (2) That it is therefore necessary that steps be forthwith taken to bring that expenditure within the appropriations of the current year, which ought not to exceed £150,000. The hon. the Premier in moving the resolutions, said the position of the House was somewhat changed since he gave notice of these resolutions, for at that time it appeared to him that the House wa3 in a position to choose between the policy of his owuand that of the late Government, aud that he could ask the House to give such a decision ; but la9t night there descended a perfect shower of policies, and he regretted that so many divergent policies, and so likely to distract the House by creating small combinations, should have been thrown down just when the House was about to try the merits of two distinct policies. The resolutions of the hon. member for Ashley contained such a policy of abandonment and retreat that the logical consequence of it would be that the population of the North Island must abandon it and take refugo in the South. The policy of the hon. member for Selwyn was simply to apply the besom of destruction to provincial institutions; while the hon. member for Avon proposed to check the native rebellion in the same manner as Mrs Partington endeavoured to stop the progress of the ocean, by means of a broom. The policy of the late Government was indicated in the Governor's speech — to do without troops, to raise a loan, and carry on the war in the manner in which it had hitherto been carried on. His view of such a policy was that it was impossible to carry it out ; aud even if it were possible, it would be ruinous for the colony to do so. The policy of the late Ministry was to carry on au aggressive war, the* certain result of which would be to involve the country in a conflict with the King party, and which would necessitate military operations on a constantly increasing scale. It was impossible for such a policy to be continued, either by the present or any future Ministry. From some £9009, we had gradually increased our expenditure to £40,000 a month, our army to 3000 men, and had become involved in a conflict with thousands of natives. The principle followed by the late Government and to which the present Ministry was opposed, was to ask their military commander what men he required and his advice upon what operations should take place and to act as he advised, leaving it to chance to settle how the expenses should be paid. No doubt by excessive taxation and in other ways money might be raised to pay interest and sinking fund on fresh loans, but the ultimate results would be that it would be necessary to confiscate property in order to pay our debts. The policy of the present Government was to ascertain what money they could spend on military operations, and reduce their expenditure within tha^t amount. The amount which the Government was disposed to think it could expend on military operations during the current year was £150,000. Perhaps so large a sum would not be required. As soon as the Colonial Treasurer was able to make himself better acquainted with the state of the finances of the colony, the Government would be in a position to say whether this could be paid out of the current revenue, or whether extraordinary measures must be used to obtain the whole or part of it. The Colonial Treasurer thought he could provide for this expenditure, and the Minister j for Defence was of opinion that he could reduce the military expenditure within £150,000. Should, however, the Government find itself involved in more extensive hostilities, necessitating larger expenditure, it would at once call the House together and throw upon it the responsibility of incurring such expenditure. The £150,000 might be expended in three or six months; if so, the House would be called together in that time. The colony had now £438,000 of fighting liabilities incurred last year, but the Government threw this behind their backs, and merely reckoned the £150,000 for the current year's expenditure. Fresh liabilities were constantly coming to light. If the present rate of outlay were continued the country would be involved in bankruptcy and ruin. He was very sanguine that the Government could reduce the expenditure from its present rate of £363,000 a year to £150,000. Since they had been in office they had reduced the force by 549 men, thus effecting a saving at the rate of £80,000 a year. It might be said this had been done by the withdrawal of the Waikare Moana expedition, which was an exceptional occurrence, but such exceptions were the rule of the late Government. The Government calculated that they would be compelled to rely upon the colonial forces daring the current year ; but it waa also a part of their policy, to send Commissioners to England to make application for two regiments. They were sanguine of this application being successful, and supposing it were, and troops came out before the close of the year, yet they would not have to be paid for during the present financial year. He anticipated they | would be paid for at fixed periods, and probably a term of twelve months would be allowed. He was very decidedly of opinion that troops would be sent out, and many other members who had studied the course of events were of the same opinion. Had it uot been for the exertion of certain advocates of the self-reliance policy there was no doubt troops would bave been dispatched to New Zealand upon the receipt of the hews of the Poverty Bay massacre. The position "of affairs

was now entirely changed, since the Colonial Ministry would be in favour of obtaining troops the General Assembly would be willing to pay tor them, friendly relations would be reestablished between the Ministry and the Holenial Oflice, his Excellency and his Ministers would be at one on the subject. Commissioners would be sent home to support the request, while it would be seen that the interests of British bondholders were at stake. All these circumstances must make an impression upon the- Home Government. He trusted he had made it clear that the i policy of the late Government differed from the present in this — that it involved the continuance of an aggressive war to be supported by loans raised at high rates of interest for war purposes, and ultimately resulting in the ruin of the colony; while the policy of the present Government was to make the war an entirely- defensive one, to bring it within the means of the celony, and apply to the Home Government not for assistance in money, but in troops. (Cheers.) The resolutions were carried nem. con., and were, amidst loud cheeriug, reported to the House.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18690716.2.8

Bibliographic details

Star (Christchurch), Issue 366, 16 July 1869, Page 3

Word Count
1,235

LIMITATION OF WAR EXPENDITURF. Star (Christchurch), Issue 366, 16 July 1869, Page 3

LIMITATION OF WAR EXPENDITURF. Star (Christchurch), Issue 366, 16 July 1869, Page 3

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