THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 667, 13 July 1870, Page 2

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The financial debate was resumed this afternoon by Mr Rich, who supported the principle of the proposals, but thought the proposed loau too large. The expenditure of money should also be placed under restrictions, to prevent its being squandered. Mr Ludlam generally supported the principle of the Government proposals, while objecting greatly to details. Sensible men, he said, had considered what would be the result if the scheme failed. He did not place much reliance on calculations as to expenditure paying, as the same thing had been done about the Three Million Loan. Anyone having property would be foolish to hold it till the expiry of the ten years. He thought that the colony might get the money, as the spirit of gambling was as strong at home as here. He would try to modify the proposals, and to introduce precautions. He would have no objection to vote a sufficient sum to enable the scheme of public works to be initiated before the new Parliament met, but he would not consent to give the Government the enormous powers asked for. Mr Tancred saw three courses open — to reject the scheme, accept it as it stood, or modify it. If he could have his own way, he would adopt the first, as he was absolutely and unreservedly opposed to the scheme or any possible modification of it. He thought it high time for the colony to stop borrowing, and economise for a few years, as notwithstanding the immense sums borrowed within the last ten years, the community was poorer now than then. When he saw Mr Yogel making the statement, he thought him like a magician puliiug millions from a box. He looked ■ quite " uncanny " and he thought the proposals the last throw of a gambler, and that of all mad, wild, schemes, this was the maddest and wildest. Still, if the scheme were rejected, instead of the colony borrowing, all the provinces would do so, which would be out of the frying pan into the fire ; therefore he would not vote for rejection. He at first had approved the proposal for a Board of Commissioners, but as the expenditure would be partly ef a political character, as bearing on the Native question, he saw that the Government could not delegate the power to a non-political body. Mr Vogel's scheme was at least well considered and carefully elaborated ; crude attempts at modification might make it unworkable and injurious, and therefore, unless they equally carefully considered the proposals for modification brought down, they ought not to accept any. He thought it of little consequence whether they were asked to borrow ten millions at once, or one or two millions a year. The proposal of ten millions had at least the element of finality about it. He thought the odds were fully ten to one against the success of the scheme, but as it was at least a consistent and well thought over one he would vote for it as it stood. Mr H. S. Harrison supported the Government. Mr Stafford said that he had never

risen to speak under a greater sense of embarrassment, as it was inconvenient that the consideration of a great colonising scheme should be mixed up with the ordinary Budget. The magnitude, novelty, variety, and importance of the subject also rendered the consideration embarrassing, when on their decision depended the weal or woe of the colony for many years. The responsibility did not rest alono on the Government making proposals, for no member could absolve himself from the direct responsibility of leaving the ordinary Budget discussion aside to i consider the greater questions involved. No Government or party could claim the sole paternity of the scheme. For years past there had been an everripening conviction in the public mind, that stepß must soon be taken in the present direction. Mr Fitzherbert had initiated it in a correspondence with Lord Granville. He had spoken in the same direction himself last session, on the second reading of the Otago Loan Bill, and more recently Mr Rolleston had done the same in his election speech at Timaru, and in a message to the Provincial Council of Canterbury. He was agreeably surprised to find tho present Ministry bring forward such a scheme. He had not expected it. He would offer no direct opposition, as he had always advocated the cardinal points of the policy, especially when opposing a loan for war purposes last session. It was singular to find the Government proposing a war loan now, when a few weeks ago Mr Fox declared at Dunedin that there was no intention to do so. Mr Fox's cardinal points were like dissolving views, but he hoped the present proposals would not prove so, but would be taken up and cherished, shaped and matured, so as to exercise a beneficial influence on the future of the colony. Mr Fox's conversion was, no doubt, due to MrVogei'a influence, and he hoped he would be still further converted, by adopting a colonial system of primary educatioa. He had no desire to interfere with those provinces which were doing their duty in this matter, but several provinces were doing nothing, and it was not right, proper, fitting, or seemly, in the Colonial Legislature to sit idly by, allowing large sections of the young population to grow up uneducated barbarians. The Commissioners' pledge was unfortunate. They were members of the Government, whose action could not be repudiated as that of agents who had exceeded their authority. He hoped the honour and credit of the colony would not Buffer from the diverse action of two sections of the Ministry. He thought the discussion which would take place in the Imperial Parliament, on the proposed million guarantee, coupled with the present proposals, would seriously injure the credit of the colony. Many members of the Imperial Parliament would take the opportunity to declare New Zealand hopelessly insolvent, and not able |to bear its present burdens. Turning to the Immigration proposals, land, labour, and capital was an old cry, and represented the necessary elements of prosperity in the colony. Land we had, and the concern was how to get labour and capital in a nicely balanced proportion. No one would deny that the time had come when we must consider how to obtain them. He failed, however, to see in the Government scheme those safeguards which would enable us to make such proposals with a due regard to the honour and credit of ourselves and children. He thought the House was bound earnestly to endeavour to shape the proposals so as to ensure their resulting in a well-con-sidered, safe scheme. The Government had candidly asked for assistance, and he in the same spirit gave it. He would endeavour to make the scheme as perfect as possible. The Immigration proposals had been flung on the floor of the House with an entire absence of detail. There was no provision as to the number of immigrants to be introduced annually, or what was to be done with them when landed. He was lost in wonder when he thought that the Government supposed the Legislature would be satisfied with their crude, undigested scheme. He would endeavour to indicate his own views. He would like newly married couples, and families with marriageable daughters, to be selected in the south and west of England, the north of Ireland, and the Lothiana of Scotland,

and brought out, the colony engaging to I find 12 months' work on public works, H at prices previously agreed on. He H would allow them to seek private em- fl ployraent at harvesting and sheep- 1 shearing, and afterwards to return to I their work. He would make provision I for settling them on arterial lines of I communication through the country, I and to do this he would walk over the H heads of the whole of the existing land I laws. There were now immense tracts^H of country in the Middle Island whefSßj the working man could not find reßt I for the sole of his foot. These tracts H had been sold for almost nothing, and H were occupied unproductively to both H the owners and the colony. He I believed the colony ought to take I power to resume the ownership of I these tracts, compensating the present I owners. Along the arterial lines of road he would make village settlements at every eight or ten miles, and give 'immigrants three-acre allotments in these, with the right to acquire tea or twelve acres more by a residence period. He would provide large commons in the neighbourhood of each village, giving runholders compensation for fencing off the common from their runs, or else bar their right to complain for trespass. Such a system would ensure that the immigrants should be cared for on their arrival. Amongst other comments' on the Three Million Loan, Mr Yogel had said that it seemed to hare been the intention of the Government to get large means in their hands and chance the proper expenditure. This criticism was equally applicable to a portion of the present proposals. He would object to have rival immigra* tion agencies, as his own experience showed him it would only be maintaining a body of paid detractors. The Immigration and Public Works Bill was bristling with powers to the Government, but was innocent of precautions. He would endeavour, not in a carping spirit, but with an earnest desire to carry out its principles, so to modify the Bill in committee that it would safely and largely conduce to effect the desired objects. He could not conceive the House passing clause 22, which would enable the ardent and fertile soul of the Treasurer, fertile in imagination, to commit the colony as far beyond the six millions authorised as he liked.for railways. The House each session should indicate what lines, by whoßO agency, and the maximum cost, were to be constructed during the ensuing year, as the only way to prevent reckless expenditure and to ensure a continuous system. Why expect railways to repay their cost ? He had * never heard of common roads doing so, and he thought the same system should be applied to railways. They indirectly benefited the country, and he would willingly see large railways constructed, if they only paid working expenses for the next 50 years, but he would not like to see too large works of this kind undertaken at once. The first railways Bhould open up the country, which was now unoccupied because it was inaccessible, like that between the Wanganui and Waitara rivers, and those districts in the immediate vicinity of ports, like that from Dunedin to Clutha. He objected to the line from Wanganui to Taupo. It would be of no use as a colonising work, and, if it were intended as a military one, it should be so Btated. Railways were not so good a means of communication as ordinary roads for military purposes, as an active enemyi in the unoccupied country, could so easily interrupt communication. He was strongly opposed to the proposal again to make the colony a land-jobber by purchasing Native land. Any proposal to increase the taxation per head must fail financially and politically. The incidence of taxation might be advantageously altered, and be was unable to see why the Gorernment could not reduce existing taxation in some directions and introduce new methods in substitution. He had said enough to show that he strongly approved the principle of the policy. While he was unable to approve the details, to give them effect he was willing earnestly to enter into their consideration, so as to make them as effectual as possible. He would not oppose a scheme the' principle of which he approved, because it came from an opponent. He was actuated by an earnest and honest de-

sire to devise a great scheme of colonization, which would not be marred by a want of due consideration, so that it might be Bent to the world in such shape as to do credit and honour to the j colony, and which could not be impaired or impugned. As one who had given the best years of his life to a colony which was the home of hiß children, he expressed a fervent hope that the deliberations of the House on this great question would result in the preduction of a scheme which, while maintaining the honour and dignity of the colony and people, would promote their welfare and prosperity. Mr Stafford was greatly cheered as he sat down. Mr Macandrew strongly supported the Government proposals, as their eminently practical advantages were immeasurably greater than any apparent drawbacks. Mr M'Gillivray generally supported the proposals. Mr Gillies is now speaking very strongly against the proposals, and urging an appeal to the country, also to await the opinion of England and the other colonies. He declared he was convinced that only ruin to the colony could result from the adoption of the scheme.