Abstract
“As far as can be ascertained, no systematic study has been made of New Zealand public finance in the period from the establishment of the Colony to the year 1890. Such treatment of the financial aspects of the period as has been published is to be found in pamphlets – almost without exception of a controversial nature – and in incidental references contained in general historical text-books.
Except for minor duties connected with the Ross Fellowship, the years 1925 and 1926 was devoted exclusively to the collection of data and to general reading on public finance. During this period, and endeavour was made to read all relevant material contained in the Hocken, the McNab, the Carnegie, the Otago university, the Knox College and the Dunedin Supreme court Libraries. The catalogue of these institutions were gone trough systematically. Later, a short visit was paid to the Turnbull, the General Assembly and the Wellington Public Libraries. [...]” [Extract from Preface]