PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4409, 7 May 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF CANTERBURY.

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Christchurch, Thursday, The Provincial Secretary has made a financial statement. He claimed the indulgence of the Council because he had but recently assumed office, and because it was a misfortune that the Government could not submit so cheering a picture as their predecessors had done for years past. They had a diminishing land revenue and cash balance, were saddled with liabilities, and had greatly increased requirements; while many classes of expenditure returned little or no equivalent in money. On the whole year’s estimates there was a debit balance of £261,031; but on the expenditure side there were several large works on which nothing, or only small instalments, would have to be paid during the ensuing year; and the actual estimated deficit thus was £74,581. The receipts from the land revenue for the last nine months were £40,000 short of the estimate. The calculated receipts from this source for the ensuing twelve months were £IIO,OOO. While explaining the receipts from the reserves for superior education, he touched upon the question of a new college, and indicated that as one means of retrenchment the Government had considered the question of saving a large sum of money by diverting the newly-erected normal schools from their original object and using them for the College. The matter had not yet been definitely decided bn. The estimated expenditure for education was £103.449. This was a very large amount, and the Board of Education, recognising the necessity of greater efforts being made by the public, recommended the imposition of a property tax .instead of a household tax; but- the Government opposed this, and would propose that the household tax, school fees, and district contributions towards additions to school buildings be doubled. The estimated receipts from railways were £161,004, and the expenditure £143,450, leaving a profit of £12,613. The comparative smallness of the latter amount was due to the fact that several branch lines were being worked, and would continue to be worked, at a loss. Certain additional charges and increased rates on railways would be proposed to increase the revenue from that source. The estimated expenditure in charitable aid was £7687. The expenditure in this direction had been rapidly increasing, and the Government thought it should be. met more directly by the people of the province themselves. Thus, they would propose a plan for gradually withdrawing from the sole control of it, and in time merely subsidising the charitable efforts of the general public. Many complaints had been'made respecting the surveys. The fullest investigation would be made at an early date. Summarising the results, the Government would make an inquiry into the financial position. The ordinary revenue was not sufficient to meet the ordinary expenditure, especially when the latter was Increased by debt from toe last financial period. The available funds for public works were reduced by heavy liabilities from last year ; the public institutions were increasing ; the public works must go on ; road boards and municipalities must be assisted; and railways and harbor works must be pushed on. Thus, burden must be increased. He said the real fa-ct*wiU that in past years, when wo had a plethora of money we became almost intoxicated with good fortune, and’ voted most liberal sums for large works, trusting that the revenues in succeeding years would help us to finish them. Now we have come to a time when our riches are less, and with requirements almost aggravated by the fact of our former liberality we find ourselves not only weighted with, legacies of the past ind unable to count with any certainty on improvement in the future, but also hard pressed to provide ’or the wants of the present. The debate on the Estimates was postponed till Cuesday. The Lyiielton Times adversely criticises the Jinandal statement, especially that part referring to the Government proposals as regards education. The Press says it is now plainly seen why the late Government went out of office. The fact was that heir hearts, failed them at the prospect before hem,