GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, August 9th, 1849. (Continued from No. 433.) Estimates.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 436, 6 October 1849, Page 4

GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, August 9th, 1849. (Continued from No. 433 .) Estimates.

The Governor then laid on the table the Appropriation Bill for (he year 1849-50, and proceeded to read his Financial minute. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, — In laying before you the Estimates of the probable expenditure of the Province of New Ulster for the year 1850-51, I feel much satisfaction in congratulating you upon the steady increase which, for the last few years, the revenue of this Province has continued to make in each successive year, as also upon the fact that the revenue and expenditure is now so nearly equalized, that there is every probability that within a very moderate period of time, the revenue will amply suffice to defray all the legitimate expenses of the Civil Government. The various amounts of expenditure which it is proposed to incur upon account of the seveial services stated in the Estimates, will be so fully discussed by the Council when in Committee, that I shall upon the present occasion refrain from troubling you with these details, and shall confine myself to directing, your attention to those general principles on which it is proposed to conduct the financial .policy of the Government, an acquaintance with which appears essential to enable you to Afford me advice and assistance in reference to the details contained in the Estimates, when these are brought under your consideration. You are aware that the revenues of these islands are at present principally raised from the duties of customs, which are imposed upon all imported articles which are actually retained in New Zealand for the purpose of consumption in the country. These duties coosist at present of certain fixed duties npon spirits and tobacco, and of ad valorem duties upon all other articles. It was necessary, in the first instance, to adopt this system of ad valorem duties, in order that the experience of a few years might, establish the average quantity and value of each description of goods which was likely to be annually consumed in these markets, and that the Government might thus be furnished with the necessary data for calculating what amount of paid duty should be imposed upon each article, with a view to raising in the. whole a revenue adequate to the requirements of these .colonies.

Although it was clear that the system of ad valorem duties was not one likely for any lengthened period of time to be satisfactory to the community, yet for the reasons I have above stated, and for others, it would not only have been difficult in the first instance to have introduced a complete system of fixed duties, but I think that even for some time to come, such a system cannot be introduced in a complete form.. Indeed many years must probably elapse before the necessary warehouses and conveniences for the storing and examination of goods, which would form a necessary part of such a system of fixed duties, can be established In many of the ports of these islands. I have, however, always felt that it would be desirable, at the earliest possible period, to replace the present ad valorem duties by fixed duties of customs, to as great an extent as was practicable, and then from time to time to extend such a system of fixed duties, as the circumstances of the colony would admit of such extension. With this view, a schedule of fixed duties which it was proposed to levy on certain articles was, by my directions, some time since proposed for the consideration of the Government of the Province of New Mun- j sterj and since this Council has been assembled for the despatch of business, I have received a report of a committee of the Provincial Legislative Council of that Province upon this subject, which report I have directed to be laid on the table for your information, as it is my intention at a future period, to take steps for proposing to the Legislature, such a change in the mode of collecting the revenue as I have above indicated; but such a proceeding on the part of the Government would I think rather have the effect of increasing the amount of revenue raised, than of reducing it below the amount at which it has been estimated. I now proceed to make such remarks upon the proposed appropriation of the revenue ior the year 1850-51 as will probably be useful to the Council. In the first place you will observe that those salaries of public officers which have hitherto been usually charged upon the Parliamentary Grant, are now stated as a charge upon the revenues of the Province. This arrangement appeared to be necessary, because the aid afforded by the British Parliament for the purpose of defraying the salaries of officers was only temporarily so afforded, and it therefore appeared to be desirable, at the first fitting opportunity, to carry out the intentions of Parliament, by relieving Great Britain of these charges, and because the Parliamentary j Grant was made in aid of the revenues of the whole of New Zealand, and there appeared no reason why this Grant should be appropriated to paying the .salaries of the Civil Officers of one Province, rather than the corresponding salaries of officers of another Province. In reference, however, to those officers who left Great Britain under a specific agreement i as to the rate of salary they were to recei? e, I have felt it to be my duty to have their salaries borne upon the present estimates, at the rate which was specified when they took office, without any reference to the amount of salary paid to the officers of corresponding rank in the Province of New Munster. But in the case of the Colonial Secretary, who was appointed in this colony, I have felt it to be my duty to have his salary placed upon the estimates at the same amount which would under the existing state of things be paid to the Colonial Secretary of a Province if he were recently appointed. I cannot, however, but feel that there would be a great degree of apparent hardship in placing the senior officer of the Government, in so unequal a position in reference to other officers, and in making so large a reduction in the salary of a Government officer after six years of most faithful and uninterrupted service, and if the Council under these circumstances think proper to make this a peculiar case, I shall very gladly assent to such a proceeding. I think that the preferable rule would be that officers' salaries should commence at a stipulated amount, and then up to a fixed limit, increase at a certain rate for so many years' service. Neither the revenue nor the establishments of the Government have hitherto assumed a sufficiently permanent and satisfactory form to enable me to propose, with any confidence, a plan of this natnre for the consideration of her Majesty's Government ; but if the Council should think proper in this instance to establish the principle, that the salaries of the Colonial Secretary, and the superior officers of Government, should increase at a certain rate for each year's service, I will endeavour to prepare and submit for the consideration of the LoHs of the Treasury, a general plan for the adoption of a similar principle for the whole Government establishment. No appropriation has yet been made of the civil list, which has been placed at the disposal of the Crown ; the Council will therefore find that no reference to the civil list has been made in the estimates. I felt unwilling to recommend any such appropriation of the ci-

vil list, until the future form of the Institutions to be conferred upon this country had been definitely arranged, and until some subsidiary question connected witb them (such, for example, as the questions I have just raised for the consideration of the Council) had been completely adjusted. The Council will observe that the sum of £262 has been placed upon the estimates as the probable cost of the maintenance of the | Government schooner Albett. This vessel is ■ at present employed upon the marine survey of some of the northern ports, being temporarily attached to H. M. Steamer Acheron. I propose, however, that the Albert should be almost inlmediately placed upon the Manakau harbour, and should there be employed in running between the northern and southern shores of the harbour for the transport of passengers and goods, such moderate rates of freight and passage money being charged as would probably suffice to pay at least a considerable portion of the cost of the vessel. I think that the Council would find that the result of this arrangement would be, that a very large amount of produce from the Waikato and Waipa rivers, which is now almost wasted, would find its way into the Auckland market, increasing our internal trade and the commerce of this poit, whilst the increased facilities of communication with the interior of the country which would be afforded, would probably lead, to the formation of settlements and stations in the interior, and consequently to a much greater development of the resources of the country, and to a greater amalgamation of the native and European races. Upon the whole, I witb great confidence recommend the Council at least to sanction the trial of this experiment for a period of twelve months. I believe that it will be successful, and that at an extremely small cost an advantage will be conferred upon this Province, the full benefits of which it is at present difficult to foresee. Amongst the items of miscellaneous expenditure borne upon the estimates, there are two to which I am particularly anxious to direct the attention of the Council. The first of these is a charge of £1175 for the maintenance of schools, which amount is, strictly speaking, beyond the control of this Council, being the estimated proportion of one twentieth of the revenue, which amount is, under the direction of the Governor and Executive Council, applicable to the purposes of education. It was, however, requisite to include this amount upon the estimates, in order that the Council might see in what manner it was proposed to dispose of the whole revenue of the colony; and I think the Council will feel with me, that in a country such as this, where the great mass of the native inhabitants are just emerging from a state of barbarism, one of the first and most important duties of a Government is to furnish the most ample and efficient means of education which it is in its power to afford. Indeed, the sum of about £1200, which is borne upon the estimates for this purpose, is manifestly entirely inadequate to attain the objects contemplated ; but I trust that from the land fund, and from other sources available for this purpose, additional sums may be obtained which will enable the Government largely to assist the efforts for the education of the native race, which are now being made with so much zeal, devotion, and success. The other amount borne upon the miscellaneous estimates to which I am anxious particularly to direct your attention, is the proposed amount of £1000 as the annual contribution of this Province for the purpose of maintaining a steam communication between certain ports in New Zealand. Should the proposed vote pass the Council, the Government are prepared to surrender for the same object the sum of about £1800 per annum, at present devoted to the maintenance of the Government Brig ; and advertisements shall at once be issued for tenders for the conveyance of mails by Steam vessels between various ports in New Zealand, the Government simply requiring contracts to be entered into for the delivery of the mails by a steamer of a tonnage agreed on at the specified ports on certain days, it being left to the owners of the vessel or vessels to make such arrangements for the transport of passengers and goods as they may think proper. I trust the Council will lend me their aid in carrying out this plan which I believe will more rapidly promote the development of the resources of New Zealand and the prosperity and welfare of its inhabitants than almost any other proceeding which could be adopted. In ftct I think that the establishment of an efficient steam communication of the nature I have described will be the commencement of a new era in this colony from which the rapid rise of many of its settlements would be dated. To the amount of the Miscellaneous Estimates will require to be added such sums as the Council may think fit to award to Mr. S. Polack for his losses at Kororarika, which are recommended by the, Secretary of State to the consideration of the Council. Various

papers connected with this subject have by my directions been Uid upon the table ; and should the Council require any farther information the matter can, if they desire it, be referred to the Committee. Plant and Estimates for the erection of a Wharf in Commercial Bay have been laid upon the table.— By the kind permission of Lieut.- Colonel Bolton, these plans and estimates have been completed by the Ordnance Department. — I need not point out to the Council the great advantages and facilities which would be afforded to the commerce of this port, by the erection cf a commodious Wharf in Commercial Bay : it may be sufficient to state that the subject has long occupied the anxious attention of the Government, that various plans have been prepared and considered, and that of all these plans, that now submitted to the Council (and which is only a portion of a very extensive plan) has appeared to combine, itore than all others, efficiency, convenience, and economy, — yet the estimated expense of constructing a wharf in Commercial Bay upon this incomplete plan amounts to no less a sum than nearly nine thousand pounds. It would however be possible, by deferring to a later period the filling in of a portion of the land recovered from the sea, to avoid for the present the payment of a considerable portion of the estimated cost of this work. Moreover, by the sale of the land so recovered from the sea, Government would probably ultimately realize a sum nearly sufficient to repay the cost of the wharves, nevertheless it would be requisite in the first instance to incur a very large amount of expense. I think, however, that the advantages which would result to the commerce of Auckland by the erection of these wharves would be so very great, that they would justify the expenditure of a very large amount of money. I therefore recommend the subject to the early consideration of the Council, who might perhaps adopt a resolution to the effect, that if the Government should find it possible to commence the works, and that the sums available from the land fund and other sources should prove inadequate to the cost, then that if the executive Government applied any portion of the revenue of the Province to the same purpose, the Council would approve and ratify such a proceeding on the part of the Government. The Council will observe that the total estimated expenditure for the year 1850 — 51 is £25,420 4s 6d, whilst the total Revenue amounts to only £23,500, leaving a deficiency of £1920 4s. 6d. which will be supplied from the Parliamentary Grant should any necessity exist for having recourse to those funds, but should the revenue continue to improve as it has hitherto done, there can be no doubt that, in the year 1850 — 51, it will amply suffice to defray all the charges which are borne upon the estimates. The Colonial Treasurer gave notice that on Saturday next he would move the first reading of the Appropriation Bill ; and also that he would on the same day present a petition from several denominations of Christians, praying for a modification of the Marriage Ordinance ; and that he would move for all despatches on the subject of the said Ordinance that had been received by the Governor from the Secretary of State. Mr. Merriman gave notice that on Saturday next be would move for the following returns :— 1. Return of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Colony for the current year ; and a similar one since the last return was published, in 1846, to the present time. 2. Returns of expenses incurred at the Pensioners' villages since their formation. 3. Return of the expenses of the Victoria, brig, and Albert, schooner, since 1847, and how they have been employed. 4. Returns from the Resident Magistrates Courts at Auckland and Howiok, showing the number of summonses issued, and hovr disposed of. 5. Return of the number of Parkhurst boys introduced into this colony, and what became of them. Mr. Barstow gave notice that, on Saturday next, he would move for a return of all monies due by or owing to the Government of New Zealand at the expiration of the year 1848 — 9, shewing on what account and by whom any liabilities may have been incurred ; also the debtor and creditor account of the land fund at the same time. Council adjourned until two o'clock on Saturday.