The Evening Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1872.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 1423, 19 March 1872, Page 2

The Evening Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1872.

Q^all sides it is. admitted that the provincial: government is displaying the quality of vigour in its administration ; and, notwithstanding every objection to the provincial system, it affords a solid pleasure to find a disposition to stir th« stagnant waters which have so long troubled the atmosphere of "vestry" politics. -r But we do not think that the public has any clear idea of the aims and objects of the provincialists. It is very apparent that they are prepared to part with some of their powers permanently, as is seen from the desire to transfer a portion of their responsibilities to the municipalities. There is too much ballast in the balloon for it lo rise; consequently some must be • casfc-jOjat vln, order to enable the aerial machine to soar in higher regions. A very credulous anti-provincialist might believe that the provincial government was. quietly preparing the way for its own end; making the devises of its estate, distributing its Chattels, and givin°orders for the funeral. It is not so. It is parting with lesser powers only in order.-tiihatr it may attain to greater. The key to its politics is to be found in an ambition which grasps at the administration, of every acre of native

land in the province. If £10,000 were' realised by the sale of the Bridge it would bring ten-fold .the Bridge patronage and power in the administration of the moneys worth of land. The fortunate disposal of the Manawatu estate to Colonel Peilding'a Society has implanted a desire for more land, which has not been satisfied by the failure to dispose of any considerable portion under .the hammer. From this it appears conclusive th*»t the Provincial Government has built its hopes of prospering upon the General Government system of immigration. The Colony borrows money on the faith, of its united security, brings out immigrants, and the Provincial comes in and trades on them, filling its exchequer by the profit which it is sure to reap. The question arises, Is it necessary to maintain the enormous expense of two Governments in doing the work of one? The N. Z. Herald, in a very able article, referring to the pi-obable deficiency of revenue for the present year being £272,000, | shows that, if we are to cease making up deficiencies out of loans, the General Government must take the administration of the waste lands of the Colony entirely under its own control By the abolition oi nine Governments consequent on this Act it is reasonably anticipated that, without further taxation, the revenue could be made to balance the expenditure. "Without soms such extensive economising of the administrative machinery and oil, a property and an income tax are inevitable. If the people are prepared to meet further taxation, we have not a word to say against the present state of things ; for we do not know of anything more calculated to bring increased taxation than the division of authority and the multiplication of offices. In Australia our absurd and extravagant system of Government has attracted public attention. The Melbourne Leader thus criticises it:—

Is it any wonder that communities so strung together should be out of all harmony with one another ? That they should with so many governments, complain loudly of being over-governed, or that over-govern-ment should lead to the grossest mis-govern-ment ? First, there is the General Government, consisting of a Legislative Council and a House of .Representatives with a real live Governor at its head; next there are nine Provincial Governments, possessing one chamber each, called a Provincial Council, and that with a Superintendent, or miniature governor over it ; the aggregate number of legislators in these various bodies in 1854 was 137, but now it is increased to 360, all having to be paid £1 a-day when attending Assembly, and 15s a-day to Provincial Council duties. Then there is the Governor, with his £4,000 a-year, and the Superintendents with their salaries of £800 to £1,000 a-year each ; to which we have also to add the executive of the General and Provincial Governments, not less than thirty in number, with salaries varying from £300 to £ 1000 a year, and allowances of £1 a dry extra in the case of those in receipt of the higher named salaries, if away from the chief seat of government, which ordinarily happens for 9 months in the year out of twelve. When the Constitution Act was promulgated in 1853, the European population amounted to 31.000, and' the expenditure to £146,855, or to nearly £4- 16s per : head._ There was no public debt worth speaking of then. But what is the position of the colony now? "With a population of 250,000, its expenditure, chiefly derived from taxation, hus increased to £1,640,000, and its public debt to £8,750,000 actual,' and man/ more millions—there is no sayinohow many—in prospect. New Zealand has the honor of being the heaviest taxed country in the world. While the taxation in the United Kingdom is £2 8s 2d. in Victoria, £4, in New Zealand it is nearly £7 per head of population.

Is it tme that we are satisfied with the Government which is here so truthfully pourtrayed 1 Do we desire to rivet the fetters which now bind us ? The people of this Colony are surely not anxions to increase the Provincial powers at a time when economy demands their abolition. The General Government is trying to acquire land on this Coast for the purposes of settlement, and the .-. Provincial has commenced to .interfere in a way that must lead to unnecessary complications. In no way is it desirable for the Provincial Government to acquire further powers! New Zealand has obtained a bad reputation already thrtU'h its system of government—but there "'is still a lower depth unless the useless provincial institutions and unnecessary offices .are immediately abolished.