THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3573, 9 June 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1880.

The Financial. Statement made in the House last night by Major Atkinson is ton acme of common sense and straight* forwardness. The position of the Colony is plainly set forth, and the hon. the Colonial Treasurer has not been afraid in exposing the doubtful side of the question, and unlike his predecessors has abstained carefully from giving his facts a couleur dt\ rose. He says plainly that the system of finance in rogue before

the accession of the present Governmeat was rotten, and it will take considerable time to set things right. Considering the short time the Government have sat, the reductions made in the various departments show the determination of the Government to prevent the colony running further into debt. The Treasurer deplores the fact that the revenue from various sources did not nearly approach the estimates relied on. This may be in a great measure attributed to the prevailing depression, although it is just possible that the hon. Treasurer over-estimatad his expected returns. The subsidies to local bodies have all been stopped, and that system will give place to a far more satisfactory one. The Treasurer also stated that the colony spent £1,000,000 in sa|aries, wages, and pay. This is a large amount, but Ministers have resolved to reduce all the pay of Government officials by 20 per cent., commencing with a reduction this year of 5 per cent., which will mean £50,000 less in the salaries. The statement is on the while re-assuring —not so much from its contents, as from the fact of an assurance which it bears, .of our affairs being managed by a thoroughly competent man. We think that in complimenting the Treasurer on his statement, we only endorse the feeling of the community.