THE ESTIMATES.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2608, 27 June 1871, Page 2

THE ESTIMATES.

The Government, by their Estimates, propose to combine the offices of Provincial Secretary, Treasurer, and Secretary for Lands, and thg QoUltjekls with that of the Secretaryship for Works j and it is intended to reduce the salaries of members of , Government holding portfolios from LS(W to L4OO The number of non-official members of Government is to be three instead of two, with salaries of L 125 ayt ar each. The total reductions in the Executive department is nearly 400. The Speakers salary is to be reduced from L2OO to LiuOj that of the Ckairmae of Committees from 1400 to 1^75

that of the Clerk of the Council from L 350 to L 225 ; the Assistant Clerk and Sergeantat Arms are only to draw salary during the time the Council is in session, by which a saving of L2OO will be effected. A reduction of L 1,500 is sought to be made m the “expenses of country members; ot CIUU in the cost of the library ; and in other ways of L2Bo—making (he total reductions m the Provincial Council department of l/.d/L The only alterations in the Police Depai t ment will be the employment of two subinspectors at L 250 each. A slight increase in the number of first-class constables at a cost of L 254 ; aud it is proposed to /educe the amount paid to Cobb and Lo.fr the conveyance of the escort, from L 8 L6OO. In the Harbor Depaitm-nt a saving of aVont L2OO is to be effected ; and in the Gaol of close upon LIOUO. principally in “miscellaneous” expenses, and in the item of ‘-junior warders,” the number of whom is to be reduced by half. A saving of L3uo is to be effected in district gaols; and of 1,1000 for sheep inspection in <)t a g° 5 . that reduction is counter-balanced by increased charges for the same purpose in respect of the Southland district. Ihe educational estimates show an increase over ; 1000; and those of the Hospital of LSOO. The collection of jetty dues at Dunedin having * alien int the hands of the contractors of the Port Chalmers Railway;.the department has been abolished, and a saving of L 740 effected. The increase in the number of the inmates of the Industrial School at Look-Out Point, renders an additional outlay of about L3OO in connection with the establishment; while under the heading “miscellaneous, a reduction of L3OO is shown. In the Crown lands department a reduction of c ose upon L 5.000 is shown ; and in the goWholds depaitment a reduction of close ca . used bv the reduction of goldfield iccervera from 9to 7. The only alteration proposed in the loads department is to increase the chief engineer’s salary by LoO a-year. The Government ask for a vote of L 2,700 in reepeot of steam tug and coastal subsidy ; we presume, therefore, that it is intended to carry out the Harbor Master’s suggestion and place the tug service under the control of that officer. Immigration being in the hands of the Colonial Government, does away with ihe necessity for large votes or that purpose ; therefore, instead of L12,(W0 as has appeared of late years, there is on y LSOO A falling revenue necessitates the reduction of grants in aid-supplemented roads this year will receive L 7,000 less, benevolent institutions and country hospitals, LI 300; and old municipalities, L2,OUU. New municipalities are to receive the reduced subsidy of 10s in the £. The only item of note under the head of miscellaneous that was not explained in the financial statement was that of L 450, which was asked to meet ths expenses of the Governor s contemplated visit in the .summer.