THE COLONY'S FINANCES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8404, 19 April 1907, Page 6

THE COLONY'S FINANCES.

A BRIGHT OUTLOOK. By Telegraph—Press Associaton. CHRISTCHURCH, April 18. Speaking at a banquet last night, the Acting-Premier (the Hon. W. Hall-J ones) said the colony generally was prosperous, and year by year their revenue was increasing. This year there would be a greater increase in the returns of the revenue earning department, than had ever been the case before. The outlook was hopeful, and he did not think there would be a falling ofE in the prices of the main products. The finances of the colony had never been in a more sound condition, and sinking funds were being established to pay off the general debt and the money borrowed under the Land for Settlements Act and to redeem the Treasury bills issued some years ago. At the end of the present financial year, notwithstanding the transfer of £775,000 to the public works fund, there would be a surplus of over half a million. (Applause). The outlook j for the Empire, from the commercial point of view, was, he thought, more hopeful than it had ever been before in his memory. All were looking forward to the good work that was going to be done by the Imperial Conference. It was well that the Premiers of the Empire should meet together to discuss the great questions which were of moment to all, and he had confidence that nothing would be done to the injury of any, but that the course t,m. . w.-ukl b« for the good o.t" the Enipnc ut.d the benefit: of those belonging to it. (Loud applause).