Financial Statement

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 5, 6 July 1893, Page 3

Financial Statement

(Concluded.) AMALGAMATION OF DEPARTMENTS. Believing that a more economical and satisfactory administration could be carried on by amalgamation of the Customs and Marine Departments, it I haa been decided to absorb the latter, v jind to place it under the control of the -Ceuxmissioner of Customs. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND AID. In d<*»liag with a Urpf and comprehensive change in the Iftal government of the Colony, it **1, I think, be conceded that it is desirable that it should from the start be placed upon a basis that will not require hurried changes after it has been established. The present local governing authorities are admitted to be too numerous, and many of their duties clash with one another, to say nothing of the enlarged expenditure that this multiplication of local bodies involves. Closely intertwined with local government w the important question of dealing with the charitable aid institutions of the Colony, which at present are in an extremely unsatisfactory condition. The Government will next session submit proposals dealing fully with theac two important subjects. BORROWING. As the important question of how our future monetary requirements are to be provided for, there are iome who advocate » reversion to the old system of obtaining loan money from the London market in order to enable public work* to be carried on to what is termed * a payable point.' ' We must, however, either obtain money by taxation or by borrowing, until the time arrives when the ex- i penditure on public workß will be lefts ' necessary than it is at present. The Government believe that borrowing is not necessary, and have decided to conduct the business of the country without having recourse to it

AID TO THE PUBLIC WOBlfcS FUWD, We khall this year a*k for a vote of £250,000 in aid of the ways and nienn* of the Public Works Fund out of the £414,000 which I have estimated would be available at the end of the current financial year. OOTTCLUSrON. It is gratifying to know that during the past financial ywr our, progress hiu been of the most satisfactory nature. In every direction this is Apparent ; and our prosperity is all the more marked when we note the absence of any strong? influences which may be characterised as superficial or fictitious. That there has been no ' boom * is in itself a matter for sincere congratulation.