THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2238, 9 July 1908, Page 1

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

THIS GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSI

TIONS;

The -following are extracts from the Financial Statement delivered by tho Colonial Treasurer (Sir J. G. Ward.) in tho House oil Tuesday night; NATIVE LAND COURT.

The Native Land Court Inis shown 1 an incroaso as compared with'former vpnrs. Tlioro has boon issued ouo hundred and forty-seven liotLiw ot sittini'a of t-lio Court, which notices ' have reference to a total of 16,799 eases. Tlio Native Appellate Court has, during the same period been ; tailed upon to deal with 267 appeals against decisions of tlio lower court, and of these 218 have been dispose! of. The work of coping with such a heavy press of business has overtaxed the judicial staff, and for this reason, and for the reason .also that it is necessary sittings should bo held in many places where tliero is an accumulation of business, the Government recently decided on the appointment of another Judge. The vojumo of business shows no signs of slackening during the coming year,' and it is hoped that this addition to the staff will have the effect of enabling the Court to sit in other pjnees where there is an accumulation of work. Tlio expenditure, under the Native Land Court vote for the year was .£16,438, while the Court and registration fees payable to the Department in the form of stamps totalled £4,380 los. Tlio work of the Maori Land Hoards lias increased to a large extent during the year, and as the trend of tlio recommendations of tlio Native Land Commission will, in •many cases be in tlio direction of vesting in the Boards the administration of lands set apart for settlement, it is expected that the Current year will see a largo increaso in the volumo of business transacted. In anticipation of this, the Government recently decided upon the appointment of two additional presidents. During the year the Boards have not put upon the' market any. considerable area of trust lauds, a fact largely attributable te the number of subdivisional surveys that require to bo oxmcd'out before the land ran Le so dealt with. No considerable area of land has been vested in the Boards for administration of Into, for the reason that it has been considered advisable to await the reports of the Commission before deciding as to future action. I find that a total of 1,545 applications for formal approval of private dealings have been notified for consideration by the Boards during the year. A great number of these are ■considered equitable, and to advantage of the Native alienors, and have been approved. From their inception to the present date the Boards have leased on behalf of Native owners an area of 165,585 acres, and have sanctioned tile private alienation of 1, 089, 020 acres, making a total area of 1,254,605 acres rendered available for settlement. This area, it is expected will he largely augmented’on the completion . f the work of the Commission, when the Department will ho in. possession of better information as to the way in which it is advisable that the respective blocks should be dealt with. The expenditure on account of the Boards for the year, after deducting fees collected and credited to the revenue was £l,BlO. . MINING. The prosperous condition of tin's industry still continues. The export of geld, although slightly less thin that of the previous year, is yet very considerable. The outlook for the future coutinucs to improve. Arrangements for working the deep quartz levels at Thames and the deep alluvial leads at Boss, in Westland, have been completed, and operations on a large scale are now being carried on bv strong companies, assisted liv subsidies from the Mines Department. It is confidently hoped that large Yields of gold will be produced from these two places. The export of silver for the past year was a record one, £25,902 greater than that of any previous year, and considerably in excess of miy annual export so far recorded. The production of coal for the year was the largest ever raised, and tile - extent of new coal areas now being opened up both by the State and private companies is an indication that the industrial activity of the community is flourishing. Operations in the State coal mines have been very satisfactory, and both of the mine’s worked practically the full time throughout the year. Depots for the : sale of this superior household fuel have now been established in large centres readily served by shipping : ports, and the trade done has steadily increased. There is no trouble in dealing with the output. In fact ' at tlio present time it is difficult to supply the demands. Therefore it has been decided-to extend the scope of operations at the .mines and to extend the railway line at Point Elizabeth .mine to open up the wellknown coal-bearing arcus in the country at the back of the present workings. The not profit of the two mines . for the last financial year was £BB4O. FINANCE FOR 1908-9. The estimated expenditure for the present year amounts to £8,662,993, or £449,028 more than, that of last year. The interest mid sinking fund will require an additional £78,000 to meet interest due principally on tjie million loan and debentures issued under the Reserve Funds Securities Act. In the latter case, however, most of the interest is recouped to the consolidated fund from .the investment of the money raised under that Actminder special Acts. The increaso on tho total is small, and; calls for. no special - remark. Coming to departmental appropriations, there is an increase of £371,000, consequent on the growing requirements of tho service. The Postal and Telegraph Department is responsible for £89,000 of this amount, the salary vote showing an increase of £55,000, which is caused by the employment of additional officers and the payment of increments-under the Departmental Classification .Act. Working railways ask for an additional £56,700. Taking into account the increased expenditure involved on the coming into operation of the new Classification Act, the increase of supplies generally, and additional wages and expenses of working new lilies that fiaye t<) be taken over, the working expenses of the year cannot be placed at less ‘than £2,020,00(1, and as the Department- expects to earn £2,835,000 for tlio twelve months, there will be a net- return of £815,000 to -the consolidated fund. The Lands and Survey Department shows m-increase of £59,900, which is required for surveys .“and for providing and equipping additional surveyors, also to cover the cost of grass seed and the relief given to settlers consequent on tho drought and bush ) fires. Defence services need £38,000

more than was expended hist year. Of this sum £I4OO is.to cover the cost of the recent 'Easter manoeuvres hold throughout the Dominion. The good results obtained will,! feel sure, justify tlio expenditure. A sum of £lO,000 is also required for equipment, ammunition, und warlike stores. Additional funds are needed for capita t ion and other services. The Education Department asks for an additional £35,000, which; is to -a great extent duo to the natural increaso of services, further sums being required for technio.il education, industries, and commerce, and tho Tourist Department is responsible for iin increase of £10,700. Tho , Police Department shows an increaso of £15,600, accounted for by the necessity to- provide more police protec-, t-io’n to localities that are insufficiently

policed and for payment to-tho members of t he corps of an increased rate of pay, us fixed by -regulation. An increase of £IB,OOO in the Agricultural Department is due chiefly to the additional amount required for inspection of dairies and noxhiis weeds. The other, classes call 10. po -special comment-.

Revenue, —Turning now to our ways mid menus for tho year, 1 i.i-m nbio to estimate our revenue from all sources as £8,985,000; £70,940 less than tho amount ■reqil'if'ed- last year, as the main source of 'Customs revenue is the spending power of tho people. Apart from tlio -lower price of wool and itlax, I have no reason to anticipate any falling off in revenue, except in so far ns it will he affected by tho tariff .remissions made last session. On the contrary, the revenue has been so buoyant for several years that it is just a question whether tlio hot remission will not be compensated by the natural increase arising from increased jKipulation and the continued prosperity -of the country. 1 estimate that the Customs_rovonue will he £295,000, or £153,565 less than tho 'previous' year. Considering the steadily increasing volumo of railway business and the additional •inllengo of lines under construction, which-I expect will ha taken over during the current year, I estimate that the gross earning of tlio railways for the twelve months may he safely put down as £2,835,000, or £69,005 more than the actual receipts of last year. I anticipate stamps to yield £1,573,000, or £22,066 more -than the previous year, the increase being derived principally from postal revenue. While the general prosperity of tile community enables mo to expect a revenue of £570,000 from land tax, and £310,000 from income tax, an increase of £37,249, the combined collections received and other fees show a decrease of £14,166, consequent on the abolition of the sheep tax. Miscellaneous revenue lias been sot down to yield an increase of £20,059 over last year, and beer duty £3027. While the marine revenue estimated to bo less by £2217, territorial revenue is estimated to produce £230,000, or £53,003 less. The revenue derived from renewable leases, which takes the place of the lease in perpetuity small grazing runs, will be credited to the national endowment account.

Estimated results at the close of the current financial year.-—Bringing the estimates of expenditure and 'revenue together, the position at the close of tho current financial year may be set' down as follows: Estimated re venue £8,985,000, estimated expenditure £8,602,993, excess of revenue over expenditure £322,007, add balance from last- year £707,849; total, £1,089,856. From this amount I propose to set aside £BOO,OOO for transfer to the Public Works Fund, and £OO,OOO -for additional contribution t 0 the British navy,-. leaving a balance -of. £229,850 for such further appropriations- as may be asked for in the Supplementary Estimates. Hon." members will he interested to know what provision is being made for ways and means for carrying on the public works of the current year. I have already informed you that £050,000 is to be expended upon roads, and of this amount £250,000 will be devoted to raids in the back blocks, the balance of the £050,000, vizi, £400,000, being utilised for roads, bridges, etc; £35,000 will bo devoted to additions to open lines, making further provision for railway ‘rolling stock, etc. In order to cnablo the .more vigorous prosecution of our railways to be carried oil, I impose this year to set aside one milion sterling for this purpose. For public buildings, telegraph, and telephone extension, it is proposed to 6et aside £250,000, thus-making tho total £2,350,000. In order to enable provision to bo made for this sum, 1 iropose to pay to the Public Works ;?und from the consolidated revenue £BOO,OOO, and to raise a -loan for tlieso purposes of £1,250,000. This, with the £191,800 available from last year’s loan, and the £200,000 authorised under the Post Office Savings Bank Fund -investment account, out of which the erection of post offices in Auckland and Wellington- will bo provided for, give u total of ways and means for tho current year of £2,441,800, V Railways. —I may mention that it is proposed to add some new lines to tho list of tlioso in hand at present. By the end of March next three or four of tho present lines that are in hand will have been completed. Full details of proposals of.."the Government will he contained iii the Public Works Statement, which my colleague will before long have the pleasure of placing -before members. INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

I need nob remind lion, members of difficulties that have been experienced in connection with tile carrying out of the industrial, conciliation, and arbitration, system of the Dominion. Though the Act has been subject to considerable criticism, it is beyond all question that it lias conferred distinct benefits, both upon the employers and employees. It has enabled uniformity of procedure to be adopted by manufacturers aiul the mercantile community throughout the Dominion, preserving them - against unfair competition of any unprincipled employer who might desire, to adopt a system of undercutting or sweating. It lias assured to the workers a fairness of wages and hours, and condition of employment that has greatly improved tlieir conditions. Those who remember the position in New Zealand anterior to this law being put upon the Statute Book can have anything hut pleasant memories of the unsatisfactory position in which workers at that period found themselves. There are extremists, of course, on up to a point been successful machinery, }ias, in eight, repquf disturbances, shown a weakness: in this direction that requires remedial legislation to try to put matters on a more satisfactory footing. The matter has been fully considered and my colleague will submit to lion, members the proposals of the Government in this direction. Two objects must he kept before us. namely:—To do wliat is right to the workers, and what is-just to the employers. If the system of conciliation -and arbitration is to stand, we must

ensure that the awards of tho Arbitration Court are respected by both sides. If wo cannot scheme this, then inevitably the Acts will ho repealed. L should much regret to see the latter eourso followed, ami I mu sure the country will endorse tills sentiment. There are oxt-romeists, of course, on both sides; some who do not recognise the rights of labor ami add to its difficulties. On the other hand there are those who, by extreme agitation, make a complicated matter yet more difficult of adjustment. What occured in Canterbury a short time ago when some 7,00(1 farmers were cited at the instance Of a small minority of workers should not he possible under a well organised system of conciliation and arbitration. Farmers, on the other hand, must recognise that the conditions under which we are living have greatly changed and what is fair and equitable should he done to the workers. 1 do not say that this has not been done. On the other hand, conditionsunder which perishable projects! of (the (country ore obtained, require to he not- only considered hut respected an doing whatis right to fanners engaged in our country life. If the whole matter is approached by all parties from the standpoint of improving the conciliation system of the Dominion, and 'making the law of such a nature that it can be carried out.- to meet requirements of tho people, then wo shall succeed in legislation so as to make the future path more even for all concerned.