CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3806, 6 May 1875, Page 3

CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(By Telegraph.) Christchurch, May G. The Provincial Secretary made his financial statement last night. He claimed the indulgence of the Council, because he had recently assumed office and because it was the misfortune of the Government that they could not submit so cheering a picture as their predeceshad done for years past. They had a diminishing land revenue, a cash balance saddled with heavy liabilities and greatly-increased requirements,while many classes of expenditure had returned little or no equivalent in money. On the whole year’s estimates there was a debit balance of L2C1,831, but on the expenditure side there were several larrc works on which nothing, or only small instalments, would have to be paid during the ensuing year, and the actual estimated deficit thus was L 74,581. The receipts from the land revenue during the last nine months had been L 40,000 short of the estimate. _ The estimated receipts from this source during the ensuing twelve months were LUO,OOO. While explaining the receipts from reserves for superior education, he touched upon the question of a new college, and indicated that, as one means of retrenchment, the Government had considered the question of saving a large sum of money by diverting the newly-erectedNormalSchools from their original object and using them for a college, bnt this had not yet been definitely decided on. The expenditure for education was L 103,449. This was a very large amount, and the Board of Education, recognising the necessity for greater efforts being made by the public, had recommended the imposition of a property tax instead of a Household tax; but the Government opposed this, and would propose that the Household Tax School Fees and district contributions towards additions to school buildings be doubled. The estimated receipts from railways were L1G1,064, and the expenditure L 148,450, leaving a profit of L12,G13. The comparative smallness of the latter amount was due to the fact that several branch lines were being and would continue to be worked at a loss. Certain additional charges, and increased rates on railways, would he proposed to the increase revenue from that source. The estimated expenditure for charitable aid was L7,CS9. The expenditure in this direction had been rapidly increasing, and the Government thought it should be met more directly by fhe people of the Province themselves. Thus, they would propose a plan for gradually withdrawing from the sole control of it, and in time merely subsidising the charitable efforts of the general public. Many complaints had been made respecting the surveys, and the fullest investigations would be made at the earliest date. Summarising the results of the Government inquiry into the financial position he said the ordinary revenue was not sufficient to meet the ordinary expenditure, especially when the latter was increased by a debt from the last financial period. The available funds for public works were reduced by heavy liabilities from last year, and public institutions [were increasing. While the public works must go on, Koad Boards and Municipalities must be assisted, , and railways and harbor works must be pushed on; thus the public burden must be increased. He said: “ The real fact is that in past years, when we have had a plethora of money, we have become almost intoxicated with good fortune, and voted most liberal sums for large works, trusting that the revenues of succeeding years would help to finish them. Now we have come to the time when our riches are less, and with requirements almost aggravated by the fact of our former liberality, we find ourselves not only weighed with the legacies of tho past anil unable to count with any certainty on an improvement in the future, but also are hard pressed to provide for the wants of the present.”

The debate on the estimates was postponed until Tuesday, The ‘ Lyttelton Times’ adversely criticises the financial statement, especially that part referring to the Government proposals re Education, 'The ‘ Press ’ says it is now plainly seen why the late Government went out of office. The fact was that their hearts failed them at the prospect before them.