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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF CANTERBURY.

Christchurch, May 0.

The Provincial Secretary has made a financial statement. lie 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 £201,031; 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, ho 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 sura 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 on. The estimated expenditure for education was £103,419. This was a very large amount, and the Board of Education, recognising the necessity of greater being made by the public, recommended the imposition of a property tax instead of a household tax; bub 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 £101,004, and the expenditure £148,450, leaving a profit of £12,013. The comparative smallness of the latter amount was due to the fact that several branch lines were being worked, and would continue to bo 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 £7087. The expenditure in this direction had been rapidly increasing, and the Government thought it should bo 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 bo made at an early date. Summarising tho results, the Government would make an inquiry into tho financial position. The ordinary revenue was not sufficient to meet the ordinary expenditure, especially when tho latter was Increased by debt from the last financial period. Tho available funds for public works were reduced by heavy liabilities from last year; tho public institutions were increasing; tho public works must goon ; road boards and municipalities must bo assisted; and railways and harbor works must bo pushed on. Thus, tho public burden must be increased. Ho said tho real fact was that in past years, when wo had a plethora of money, we became almost intoxicated with good fortune, and voted most liberal sums for largo 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 tho past, and unable to count with any certainty on improvement in tho future, but also hard pressed to provide for tho wants of tho present. The debate on tho Estimates was postponed till Tuesday. Tho JjuUelton Times adversely criticises tho financial statement, especially that part roforrlng to tho Government proposals as regards education.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18750510.2.44

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4411, 10 May 1875, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
646

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF CANTERBURY. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4411, 10 May 1875, Page 7

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF CANTERBURY. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4411, 10 May 1875, Page 7

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