The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1302, 9 June 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1880.

Major Atxikson, the Colonial Treasurer,, delivered hia Financial Statement in the House of Representatives last evening. We have to acknowledge' the courtesy of the Government in supplying ub with a full tele* graphic report of the statement. The greater portion of this is published elsewhere, but we have been compelled to omit some of its uninteresting portions, and to hold over until to-morrow the concluding part of the report. The statement will, no doubt, prove valuable to our readers, as it discloses the financial position of the Colony and the intentions of the Ministry in regard to subsidies to local hflilfwi and other matters. In order that our readers may be placed in possession of the proposals of the Ministry contained in that portion of the statement which want of space compels us to hold over until to-mor-row, we give them in brief, omitting details. Briefly, then, the proposals are : To reduce the of Ministers for the ensuing year by-20 per cent., and consider the question further during the recess; to effect reduction* In the salaries of Civil servants equal to five per cent, all roHnd, or to the extent of L 50.000 upon the total sum paid ; to slightly increase the rates of freight upon the railways* and make further reductions in the .expenditure; to exempt personal effects, furniture, books, &c., from assess-, ment under the [Property Tax Act; to impose an excise tax of 6d per gallon on colonial beer; to increase the duty upon imported beer by 6d per gallon; and to impose succession duties. The Colonial Treasurer concluded by moving supply to be granted to Her Majesty there shall be levied and charged, on and after-the 9th day of Jnne, 1880, an excise duty of sixpence per gallon on all beer, porter, or malt liquor brewed or made in New Zealand before removal from any brewery, cellar, warehouse, &c., or other place in which the aamn may be stored; such duty to be levied, collected, and paid in such maimer as the Commissioner of Customs may direct. Of customs now charged on the undermentioned articles, the following duties of . customs gWallj on and after the 9th day of June, 1880, be charged thereon on their importation into New Zealand or on being cleared from any warehouse for consumption, viz. : Ale, porter, beer of all sorts, cider and perry, in bottle, per gallon, Is 9d; ale, porter, beer of all sorts, cider and perry, in balk, per gallon, Is 6d." This resolution was agreed to, and the new taxes, therefore, came into operation to-day.