TASMANIAN FINANCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 109, 24 April 1863, Page 3

TASMANIAN FINANCE.

[From the Launceston Examiner]. The Country has to deplore |a falling revenue and an increasing amount of liabilities to the public creditor. In 1854 the sum received for Customs duties in Tasmania was £171,226 19s 7d ; which in 1862, had dwindled down to £100,673 8s 7d. In the same period the land revenue had declined from about £113,000 to £67,000 ; and, as the principle of deferred payments lias been adopted, we anticipate a further falling off. Under these circumstances successive Treasurers have been compelled to have recourse to loans, and the amountalready obtained by the issue of debentures exceeds half a million sterling ; while there is nothing to show for the outlay but a few buildings, some of which no doubt are very creditable to the taste of our neighbors, but are by no means a satisfactory equivalent or a first-class, security for the sum borrowed. Any prospect of equalizing the revenue and expenditure of the Tasmanian Government seems to be almost hopeless. It can only do so at present by pledging its credit in the London Money Market for such advances ns will enable it to make both ends meet. When the limits of this dangerous experiment have been reached, it will find itself staggering under a crushing load of indebtedness, and compelled to face its difficulties by the imposition of taxes, which will bo as unpopular as they must bo onerous. Unless the expenditure is reduced, those who have realized wealth will depart, and those that remain will consist of paupers and placemen. It is melancholy to think that by mis-government and the most wanton extravagance this beautiful and salubrious island should be depressed and depopulated ; when under a different system, instead of ninety thousand souls, it could sustain millions in comfort. The consequence of all this is that a proposal has been made to unite Tasmania to Victoria arid thus save a largo amount of the expenses of Go*, vernment.