Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1885. The Policy of the Government.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1769, 9 December 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1885. The Policy of the Government.

The New Zealand Times had an “ inspired’ article the other day sketching the intended future policy cf tbe Government. It was stated that tbe Government would nroposo to raise a large loan of sufficient an; art lo provide for the early completion .-f the already authorised Main Trunk Kailway Lines, atjiJ also the construction of the East and W.est .Coast Railway ; that efforts would be made to introduce immigrants possessed of capita), by lowering the rates of' passage to the colony to the same level as tlfe rates charged from Great Britain to America ; and that every possible means should be adopted to settle those immigrants upon the land. Finally, with the ostensible object of encouraging local industries, tbe Government contemplate adopting a policy of Protpofiop. There is nothing new in what has thus been set forth by the Times as the policy which the Government will propose to Parliament next Session. In the various speeches m.lde by Sir Julius Vogel and Mr Stout, since tbe prorogation pf_ Parliament, the main points of such a policy have been generally indicated. Still, off? gontemporAfy has put forth the programme m a <eipa f fjf)s definite shape, and evidently also at the of the Government, so it may he assumed that the policy thus indicated will really tig proposed by the Government when Parlia ment is once mote fn Session. This policv is mainly one of huge additional borrowing. It is a Vogelian policy all over. It will be remembered that when Sir Julius Vogel was a candidate for a seat in Parliament, he alluded to a scheme of raising a big loan and constructing all the trunk lines right oft the ;yel, Up, however, did not venture to submit such a Proposal to Parliament, knowing well that there' was po chance of getting its assent to such a bis borrowing scheme, is now evident that Sir Julius intends to try on the old borrowing proposal next Session. We do not think that he will be able to carry any such proposal. The people of this colony are naturally Manned at the existing enormous public debt, and regard with absolute dread the Idea of increasing it by an additional loan of probably about ten millions, It is easy to argue " that it is better to borrow all that is wanted to complete the railways, in one lump sum, than to go on borrowing from hand to mouth as the money is required j ” but we certainly regard the I’fltt.er plan at' being the •noG sefo ??•••: vmrrert. It is true • even It author; iv were given by Parliament for the large loan requited, the money uted not all be raised at once. We, however, perceive the danger that if the present Government once obtained the [authority to raise a large loan, they would display a remarkable readiness in getting hold of all (he mopey and expending it h} (he Bjogt

lavish and extravagant manner. In such a matter as this any Government of which Sir Julius Vogel is the real head, is not to be trusted. Certainly, it will be necessary to borrow further in order to complete the trunk lines, but Parliament should simply authorise fresh loans as they are wanted for the construction of specific railway works. There should be no further huge loan, if it be desired to prevent a repetition of the extravagant expenditure which marked the early years of the borrowing and spending policy. As to the proposed construction of the Bast and West Coast Eailway, we say plainly that the colony is not in a position to enter upon snob an enormously costly undertaking. It would be well for the colony that the works in question should be postponed for at least bait a dozen years. It is quite enough to complete the already authorised trunk lines without entering upon any new undertakings such as the line in question. The proposal to induce people possessed of capital to come out to New Zealand is a good one. The very best kind of population for the colony is the small farmer class, who would have money enough to go upon land, render it productive, and make homes for themselves and their families. By all means let the Government bring out such people at very low rates of passage money. The expenditure thus incurred would be far more than made up by getting such people settled upon the land, where as “ producers ’’ they would add to the wealth of the colony, and as “consumers" contribute to its revenue. To the proposal of adopting a policy of “ Protection ”we are utterly opposed. As we have pointed out in previous articles, the existing Customs Tariff does already afford a fair amount of protection to local industries, and there is no necessity whatever to go any further in that direction. Gradually the intentions of the present Government are becoming developed and it is well that the people and their representatives in Parliament should be on the alert to resist those parts of their scheme which consist of a huge new loan of perhaps ten millions, and an ultra Protective Customs Tariff. The big loan would simply be another step in advance oli the road ,to ruin, while the Protective Tariff would so largely increase the cost of subsistence to the great mass of the people that the colony would no longer be fit to live in.