THE NEW EVANGEL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2531, 29 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE NEW EVANGEL.

V.—The Main Issues. FINANCE-ECONOMT, WEALTH-PRODUCTION, FAIR-LEGISLATION. And from it (the balance-sheet of the colony), amongst many other things, we learn that the last year's " excess of expenditure"—£l,73B,376 2s 2d—virtually represented the amount payable for interest during the year on loans— £1,765,864 9s 6d ; so that, even drawing the most favourable inferences from the amounts set down against lands purchased, public works, railway construction, immigration, and local bodies, tho proportion of the excess spent on current expenses was enormous. And are we so credulous as to expect that the " excess of expenditure" for ISBS-89 will be less than £1,735,37G 2s 2J, notwithstanding the assurances in the Financial Statement ? What, against such probable immense excess of expenditure, is tho comparatively paltry £232,097 supposed (and I suspect it is largely supposititious) to ba retrenched this session, of which so much f uas and brag has been marie ? What matters it even if the £100,000 motion had been carried through, nnd that, even without the words "if possible"? What matters it whether the Government in the recess retrench the £100,000 or not ? What matters it whether the Government chuckle over the Customs revenue coming up to their estimate of what it would be ? " Excess of Expenditure !" Figures appalling ! and yet not so appalling as the way in which the public allows itself to be thus humbugged. Facts appalling—true,—but, in view of such facts, not nearly so appalling, from an economic point of view, as enacting the " Suicide Aid Act," a Statute which—notwithstanding it was boasted of as the chef d' tenure of the Stout Government—gives, under the delusive name of charitable aid, the coup de if race to the industrious aud thrifty ; to say nothing of its twin sister " Relief Works" or of the additional systematic expulsion of men and capital merrily promoted under the swect-souuding terms of Protection and Property Tax Kxoniptions. Truly, all these, are, indeed, curious dcvicus of groat statesmen to pay Stale debts and foster wealth production. If the calibre of a statesman, or a general, be weighed

by his ability to cope with a grave emergency, then indeed are our statesmen great ! Tho legislative farce for tho year is now over ; tho curtain is rung dnwn ; the members pocket their £150 each, and return with braggadocio that thoy have forced the Q-overstnent to retrench £'233,097 ; leaviusr—which they omit to uieution—the deficit to be wrung out; of an already heart-broken people. And this, forsooth, is whut we call statesmanship ! and what wo are content to send representatives to Wellington for—paying them for their services £100 each, besides travelling expenses, railway passes, etc ! The delusive devico towards meeting the deficit is worthy of tho wisdom of a House which perennially permits the terriblo excesses of expenditure and the malversation that I havo shown. T?or the fresh taxes which the deficit, including interest on—forsooth ! —a new loan entails, not only weightily add to our burdens—already too grievous to be borne—but are most substantially killing the goose that lays the golden egg ; and in the present state of feeling both inside and outside tho colony are, above all things, what should have been avoided. No surer course could have been taken to deter men and capital from coming here, and to drive them away. Ho x should we, if shareholders, treat such financing and management in a company or business ? Would we not ignoininiously and forthwith dismiss such servants as traitors to their trust, or incompetent, and absolutely decline to entertain for a moment any idea of their re-employment ? And what is the difference? Simply this, treachery or mismanagement in a State brings ruin to thousands—in a company or business, only to a few comparatively. But, alas ! we are the victims of glamour. The demon—tho demoralisation of borrowing is like the demon—the demoralisation of success—a syren'e song—an intoxication which lulls and lures to destruction—the difficulty of recovering from which intoxication one has to read " The Confessions of an Opium Eater" to understand. I dare to assert that, owing to legislative maladministration, there are not 10 per cent, of the population iu the ■ Auckland district, at least, who would stay here if they could realise the cash which they havo iuvested hero, or could got awar. We forget that there can bo no substantial prosperity while deepseated dissatisfaction with institutions and laws exist. Does it never occur to us that satisfaction with institutions and laws is an immense and necessary factor in, and aid to, national prosperity ? Does it never occur to us that under existing circumstances substantial and perma-) nent prosperity here is impossible, not only by reason of such dissatisfaction, but became the dissatisfaction is too well founded ?

With our representatives, with our statesmen, we may well be taunted — "These be thy gods, O Israel! " Indeed, to say nothing of statemanship—for to speak of such a faculty in the colony is an abuse of the word—common sense even eeenis not only uncommon but an unknown element amongst our politicians. For I venture to hold that it ought not to require the concentrated brains of 91 men to deal with such a situation as ours. Surely the firat plain duty—a course which would naturally suggest itself to the meanest intelligence was not to impose fresh taxes on an already crushed people, and thereby increase auch distress, distrust and fear, as must drive population and capital out of tho colony, aud doter them-from coming, but instead, and at all hazards, to reduce expenditure. Any other course seems to me simply absurd and suicidal, aud is driving thoughtful men into a condition of despair. Thero is, indeed, a very short step now to having Dante's well-known line publicly emblazoned on our portals, "All hope abandon ye who enter here." But is there no hope ? Is it necessary to despair ? Is it certain that our representatives are sages ? Is it beyond doubt that all wise expjdients have been exhausted? I answer that I firmly bnlievo that thero is no hope — no outlet but despair —uuless eome such radical legislative changes as I have suggested be elected. But I equally firmly believe that such changes can be effected, if only they be insisted on vigorously and firmly by the electors. Indeed, I go further, and say that such changes can bo effected if they be insisted on vigorously and firmly by the thinking portion of tho electors. Give the reform side the brains, it matters not who has brawn. Then, then would there be no difficulty, not only ia avoiding flutter

borrowing, even temporarily, by means of Treasury or Deficiency Bills, or other discniccful MiMei'fugf'S (G), but in wipingout oven such an enormous itiooT.n deficit, as £1,738,376 2s 2d, and redwing tho taxation to far below what it was before the now tnxoH were levied, even to the sweeping iiwny of that irritating , — and unjustly administered— imposition, tho Property Tax, without any substitution in its stead. For [ venture to hold that—in addition to btopping all such wholly unwarrantable investment expenditure as that of last year—such as laud purchasers, public works, railway construction,' payments to lueal bodies, and expenses of raising loans—-then* should bo a reduction off current annual expenditure of at leant £1,500,000-0110 million and one half—find that it is simply disgraceful incompetence on the part of our representatives that Riicb reduction was not, long sinco made. Indeed, even tho member for Newton, one of the ablest and most untrammelled of our members, does not attempt to suggest how adequate reductions can be made, or adequate reforms effected. How such reductions can be effected— of conrso assuming that the radical legislative changes That I have suggested be effected—l hope to show in my next article. For, although t.Uc roud to Paradise is ns hard as tho road to Hell is easy, yet I venture to think that, rough and muddy a? it may be, it is passable, R. Lai.shlev.