The Financial Statement

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 58, 3 November 1887, Page 2

The Financial Statement

Fbom Oua sv«-i»iJNOTOir ! Waxchmait.. Wkllikotoit, November 1. Before a full House, the ladiea-.aai strangers' galleries being crow<led> Major Atkinson deiirered to-ni^hthit, expected and much canvassed Financial Statement. On rising, the: Premier was greeted with hearjly cheering, and in a calm/ but impressive manner,, he alluded to the weighty sense of responsibility under which he labored.. He graphically and lucidly described* the existing financial condition of thj» country, declared that trade should; meet with no disturbance at present, and disclaimed any intention on the. part of his Government of disturbing the existing tariff. He foreshadowed, the Ministerial policy with regard to, settlement and immigration, stated! that he would move in the direction of placing New Zealand railways under the management of a non-poli-tical board, as in Victoria, and then faced the burning question of retrenchment. This would be conv> menced I rora the top, and he proposed* to place the salary of the next Gok vernor at £5000, but that sum was to. represent the total cost of the Guber-» natoriai Establishment. As an earnest of the honest desire of his Government for thorough retrenchment, it waft proposed to reduce the stipend of: the. Premier from £1750 to £1000, other Ministers to receive £800 per annum* and the number of paid Ministers to be reduced from 7 to 6. Travelling allowances would be arranged merely to recoup actual outlay. The larger Ministerial residence was to be sold v the other retained for the Premier* and Ministers might receive house/ allowances net <x seeding £200 per; Annum. .The Legislative Council would be invited to reduce their num-> bers to 35, and their honorarium to £100. Members of the Lower House would similarly be invited to re4qoe> their honorarium to £150, and salary ies of officers of the House would be reasonably reduced. The Government would bring in a Bill next session to reduce the members to 70 at end of the present Parliament, as also a BilJ to alter the electoral laws. Salaries under £150 of civil servants would not Ve touched, but reductions would, be made in larger salaries. The sys* tern of education was too costly, and no capitation grant would be allowed, for children under six years of age, but no country schools; would be closed thereby. This, herein very roughly summarisod, was the spates ment brought forward; a more temperate, exhaustive, and masterly Financial Statement has never perhaD* been previously submitted to the House of Representatives. The Opposition appeared surprised and somewhat dismayed at its thoroughness and grasp of subject. The Statement | occupied one hour and a half precisely in delivery, ani the Premier was loudly -applauded at its i conolu? sion, and the House adjourned imm§^