PROVINCIAL EXPENDITURE.

Southland Times, Issue 620, 1 February 1867, Page 3

PROVINCIAL EXPENDITURE.

The following reductions are recommendedby the select committee appointed to enquire into and report upon what reduction can be made in the Provincial expenditure in the Province of Southland :

Thus effecting as the combined result of abolition of Departments and Offices, amalgamation of offices, and reduction of salaries, a total reduction of Departmental Expenditure which may be tabulated as follows :— . Superintendent's Department —

New River Harbor Department — Saving after making 3 months' provision for present staff, say £410 ; and 3 months' further provision for pilot and two boatmen, say £115 ; total, £525 against £1240,

In addition to the above reduction, a further sum of .£6OO represents the effect of the reductions recommended by the Committee in the following departments provided for out of the Land revenue, which may be tabulated as follows : — Land and Survey Department —

10s, of which, however, the sum of .£6OO affects departments provided for out of the land revenue, leaving a sum of £2561 10s immediately available for the present wants of the province, in addition to whatever surplus . revenue might have been estimated to accrue over and above the departmental expenditure if continued on the existing scale. The committee desire also to draw attention to the fact that the reduction above described is that which will arise; if the changes recommended are effected at once, but even then is lessened in most items by the necessity of making provision for the departments up to 31st March, and so more nearly represents the results of nine months than a year. The annual rate of the reduction is more nearly £3600 than .£3161, and it is to be supposed that the benefit to the revenue will be eveii more apparent in 1868 than during the present year, should the committee's suggestions be carried out.

From To Superintendent's Clerk £300 0 0 £250 0 0 Speaker of Council - 75 0 0 50 0 0 ProTincial Treasurer - 350 0 0 300 0 0 Accountant (exclusive of salary as Registrar of Sheep Brands) - 300 0 0 250 0 0 Chief Warder of Gaol to be warder (per diem) 0 9 6 0 8 6 Matron - 50 0 0 25 0 0 Riverton Pilot and Jetty , . keeper - - 200 0 0 150 0 0 Provincial Engineer (formerly Resident Railway Engineer - 350 0 0 300 0 0 Three Sergeants of Police (per diem) 010 6 010 0 Two Constables „ 0 9 6 0 9 0 Five Constables „ 0 9 0 0 8 6 Oook - - 30 0 0 25 0 0 Chief Surveyor - 350 0 0 300 0 0 Chief Draughtsman - 300 o o 250 o o Assistant do (for six months) - 125 o o 112 10 o Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands - 350 o o 300 o o Clerk to do - 300 o o 250 o o

Superintendent's Clerk £50 o o £50 o o Provincial Council — Speaker - 25 o o 25 o o Treasury Department — Provincial Treasurer - 50 o o 50 o o Accountant - - 50 o o 50 o o Clerical assistance - 25 o o 25 o o Provincial Solicitor's Department — Clerical Assistance - 100 o o 100 o o Public Works Department — Inspector of Roads (9 months' salary) - 187 10 o 187.10 o G-aol Department — Chief Warder to be warder (Is per diem) 18 5 o Matron - 25 o o 43 5 o

previous annual cost 815 o o 815 o o Riverton Harbor Department — Pilot and Jetty keeper 50 o o 50 o o Railway Department — Resident Engineer's salary - 50 o o Nine months' salary (clerk) - - 187 10 o 237 10 o Hospital Department — Cost of 3 months, at last year's rates, would be - - - £337 10 o 9 months' donation 300 o o Costthisyear£637 10 o Last year 1350 o o Saving - - 712 10 o 712 10 o Police Department — Ten men reduced 6d per diem - 91 5 o Cook - - - 5 o o 96 5 o Waste Land Board — . Salary to one member 100 o o 100 o o Miscellaneous — Health Officer, combined with medical attendance on Gaol, Lunatic - Asylum and Police, £100 against £120 - 20 o o 20 o o Total reduction on those departments which are to be provided for out of the ordinary Provin : cial revenue - - £2561 10 0

Chief Surveyor - £50 o o Chief Draughtsman - 50 o o Assistant do (6 months) 12 10 o 112 10 o Crown Lands Department — , Chief Commissioner - , 50 o o j Clerk - - - 50 o o Ranger - - 150 o o 250 o o i Goldfields— Nine months' salary of ■ Warden - - 262 10 o Deduct probable expenses of visiting Goldfields - 25 o o 287 10 o Total reduction recommended in above departments - - £600 o o