PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4782, 25 July 1894, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

nummimimm. : ■ In the House lust night the Colonial Treasurer, (Hon. J. G. Ward), delivered the Financial Statement, from which tho following is taken. The cstimnlcd 'expenditure for 1891-05 is £4,301,098, estimated rcvenuo £4,352,800; excess of revenue over expenditure is £51,702. It must not however, be forgotten Hint wc Closed last yenr with the satisfactory .?siirplus'of £290,338, and our severest critics will not I suppose object to our bringing forward this surplus in aid of tho current year's transactions. Therefore, adding tlicßiirplusofi!2llO,23Blotlic execssof revenue ovcrcxpendituroforthc year, of £Ol, 702, wc arrived at a gross surplus of £311,910, out of which wo propose, ns before, to transfer £250,000 to the Public Works fund for construction of reproductive works mid in aid of the settlement of tho land. Our net surplus at the 31st March next should be £91,910 subject to further reduction after the Supplementary Estimates have been provided for. ronuc trust.

Uusincss in the Public Trust Office showed an increase, A small deficiency of £3lO had arisen from bad and doubtful securities. This will make the dchilvc been made good ' in such securities amount to £-1,098 out - of an estimated total in 1891 of £5,000 :d OOVKIIXMKXT IXSI'IIAXCK. The accounts of the ■ Government Insurance Department showed that it never occupied a stronger jwsilion than at present, the new business of the year being £IOO,OOO in advance of 1892, while the expense rate had still further declined, and was now lower than at any time during the last eight years. The work of the new department of •H' Industries and Commerce seems likely to be of considerable advantage to the Colony generally, and although still in its infaucy, the work already done has proved the wisdom of its establishment. The Government was so impressed with the importance of this subject that when a delegate was despatched to Canada to represent the Colony at the " tho Ottawa Conferencc.hc was specially commissioned to obtain from every pos- - siblc source data which might be of service in opening up trade with foreign tit "--mat**.- •. • 9 Aoiiici'i/rriiß. The work of the Department of Agriculture has steadily increased, and the endeavours made to assist settlers by supplying information has met with cordial approval from time to time. The total output of butter was 02,503 cut., valued at £205,959; cheese, 37,303 cwt., valued at £83,017. Although these returns show ut decrease in cheese, it is believed there was really no actual dccrease in the quantity manufactured, * but through some cause it was not exported, till after the end of the financial year. .MAIL SERVICES. llefcrriug to thcl'ostal and Telegraph Department, the Colonial Treasurer said that at a later date period of the session ' tho House will bo asked to renew the : San Francisco mail service for another term of three years. Now that wool is to bo admitted free into the United -" States—a great advantage to this colony —the maintenance of direct steam com- ' muuication between Jfew Zealand and San Francisco becomes more desirable. The (jucstion of establishing a CanadianPacihc steam service, connecting Australia, New Zealand nud Vancouver, to alternate with the service via San Francisco, so ns to secure to the colonics > a fortnightly Pacific mail service was also affirmed, should it be practicable to < secure such n service. Tho Government proposes to recommend the payment of mi annual subsidy of £IO,OOO for a rcasonablc term of years. lAKD SKTTtKMKXT. I

The demand for Crown lands during past year has been considerable, and ov« one million acres of land were *< thrown open for selection under settlement conditions and for cash sales, besides about one million seven hundred thousand acres for pastoral purposes. Tho total number of selections of lands last year was 2,870, but theso figures include selectors of miscellaneous leases and licenses which arc not of a permanent character. Deducting these, there ' remains 2,539 selections under all other headings, These may be divided as follows:—Purchasers for rash, 800, who selected 31,999 aeros; deferred payment selectors DC, who took up 12,608 acres; perpetual lessees 17, selecting 3,851 acres i occupiers with right of purchase 471. selecting 108,499 acres; lessees in in perpetuity 1,228, taking up 255,302 acres (these include Village Settlenicnts Associations and other small '"•'' holdings - "under this particular tenure); and finally 227 selectors of grazing farms, small grazing runs, and pastoral leases. The total figures show a small decrease (195) in the number of selectors as compared with last year. FINANCIAL AID TO SETTLERS, There has been no little controversy upon the question of providing cheap money for the use of settlers in this colony. Many schemes have been profounded anil various ideas put forth. t was proposed, on certain conditions, j . to ask the Honso to assent to legislation authorising the raising in London of a sum not exceeding £1,500,000 per annum, to be advanced to settlers in (his Colony on freehold security,that 'i\ per cent inscribed, stock be issued from fimp (o (imc fo provide the requisite amopt. Wifh a lending Board and a proppr system of vajiiatioiis it would be (mito sate (o authorise the Board to fldvancp up (o fiyb-tliirds of the security. x PJIfVAJK B.IVJXOS BASKS. Legislation will' bp submitted (o prcvpqtany npw private savings banks W being established, and to provide if machinery for the nbsorhlion of the # existing ones, The existing institutions will not be pressed to wind up, but it was hoped the advantages of the system would bo sufficient to induce them to do so. OID AGE PENSIONS.

' The question of old age pensions ■which for many years has been before the English public, still remains misolved. The grant of a State pension to all arriving at n certain age, would not only i necessitate a greatly increased taxation but would also add dispro- ' portionatcly to the burdens of those least able to bear such increase. If (he pension were to be granted to those only who could prove iiccd, it would be dilhcult to separate the recipients from the nou-rccidpH without injustice and without (hscourageincut to thrift, A select committee was now sitting to consider this subject, , USD FOB BKTTMJMKNT. To enable land to be acquired at fair valuo, the House will be asked to assent .' to an amount of £2oo,ooo'for the pur-' • chase of private lands. For the important work of makingroads, and constructing bridges to open up lands for settlement, and for sub-dividing and clearing them, a further sum of £230,000 will also be asked for, 10041 pqrasj[Esi. £- The Government were very anxious fo sijbmjt proposals this session' jo extend jiipppwfp'o'f 'joca| boilies and to ileal with tho pressing necessity for reform in the administration of charitablo aid. Many local bodies were in n very unsatisfactory position, and in order to assist thorn it had been decided to bring in a measure authorising them to levy rates . upon' Crown Lands, From' this source it is anticipated that they will rcceivcabout £IO,OOO. ■ ABBESBMKST OF USD. . It was proposed to introduce a much wore simple scheme, under which an <'* - - opportunity will in the meantinn be ,< afforded for redress of grievances, which may exist under the present assessment. Thereafter particular districts of the colony will be assessed at such intervals as circumstances require. The change was anticipated to result in a very large .saving of expense to the country, and also of worry .ami inconvenience to taxpayers, 'The change would not affect next collection of the Land Tax, as the present assessment has still a year to run. jt is also intended to bring under' jho operation of the Land Tax all in•■■■j. tcrcsti! of Maoris in lands leased to ■ r . Europeans, and mortgages belonging '; ' to wis secured upon laud., A schemo,

lias been under consideration which will bp submitted to the House, under wjiich firms and individuals which have no representation ill tho Colony in n position to make the annual ineomo tax return on behalf of principals, will bo reached, and it is by aid of Customs Department that tho ineomo tax payable by theso firms and persons will bo collected, Owing to the difficulty experienced by agents of foreign trading ships in making returns of income tax, and it is also proposed to reach them through the Customs, TUB MINING IXDUBTJIY. In order to encourage development of mining industry, I am of opinion that further aid should bo given towards inducing miners to settle on land, and construction of roads and tracks to opeu up country in mining districts. MIXED KARMIXO. Durine late years the phenomenal success that has attended several important steps that hare been taken in the exportation of frozen meat, and in the development of tho dairying industry has more than ever impressed upon the Government tho desirability of adopting what is generally known ns " mixed farming." Alargc and valuable field lies before those who arc enterprising enough to embark upon the cultivation of sugar bcct,nnd have the requisite knowledge and capital to enable them to bo successful. It is but fair to assume that people would shrink from possible loss that such a great undertaking might possibly cause to them, and itwas therefore proposed to submit to the House proposals which would act as an incentive to the enterprising, to vigorously embark upon the industry named. The House would be asked to agree to a bonus being paid to the amount of £5,000 for the production of sugar beet, for a limited period,

COAt, MIXES, In order tofurther augment the value of coal mines in the colony, the time has in my opinion arrived when the country should be prepared to pay an export bonus upon coal despatched to foreign markets, fur the purpose of enabling fair effort to he made in this direction. The House will be asked to consent to the payment of bonus of 2s per ton upon 50,000 tons of coal, if exported within 12 months from the Ist October next, KItUIT CI'IiTIWE. I am disposed .to think that in the past we have shown an indifference to fruit culture which almost amounts to culpable negligence. There are many places in the Colony which are eminently suited for this class of produce, One of the causes which has nindcred successful production of fruit, has been the free admission into the Colony of Pacific Island, Tasmanian, and Aus-

tralian fruits. While we nro protecting our industries, and endeavouring to lind fresh avenues for the employment of our people, those desirous of using imported fruit should be prepared to pay a higher price in order that fruit may be profitably produced here, and a duty upon fruits which could be grown in Colony should be levied, Kailways, which have been made for the general use of the people and for the primary object of developing the resources of country, should be placed at the service of fruit-growers at greatly reduced rates. In that way fruit producers living at a distance of, say 100 miles, from a consuming centre, could have their fruit conveyed as cheaply as more favoured producers, living perhaps only 20 miles distaut. OTTTKR AXP KOOS.

The Government arc of opinion that producers of such articles as butter and eggs.wllonre largely dependent upouthe sales in largerccntrcs,shonltllinrc extended to them privileges similar to those which arc suggested for facilitating the the transit of fruit. The railways should be used for settlers of this class for purpose of overcoming the difficulties arising out of distant markets, or making it as desirable for settlers to live a long distance from a town as to live where those now more favoured do. IIF.CKIPROC.IL TARIFF. I would direct attention of hon. members to the policy which has so prominently characterised neighbouring colonics for some years past, I refer to tho policy of raising their tariffs. These increased tariffs have had the effect of limiting the outlet trade of these colonies. I believe that a colonial reciprocal tariff entered into would confer greater benefits upon Australia than upon New Zealand, but in order to enable friendly commercial relations to exist between colonies, I would at all events favour a tariff treaty being entered into with any of Iho colonies that would agreo to exchange products with us. 1 fear the number of things to be considered by the Tariff Committee, may prevent their reporting in sufficient time to enable the Government this session to deal with the matter in as exhaustive a manner as they consider the importance of the subject demands, THE TIIIIIFT OF THE PEOPLE. Members arc aware that former Governments have from time to time given much thought to the best way of assisting our fellow-countrymen in their laudable endeavours to save and layby for Ihe proverbial rainy days. My colleagues and myself cannot bo accused of any want of energy in this direction. Indeed we think we can point with pride to many benefits which have been our gooilTortuuc, through the legislature, to bestow upon our fellow-workers, notably through the extended opera? ations of Public Trust Office with its "General Fund" investments ; and the increased advantages offered by the Government Me Insurance Depart mcn(. Tl|e PostOHipp Savings Bank, it is recognised, presents a thoroughly safe, and—ju a large majority of eases—a sjuguiarly acceptable change for deO surplus monies of our wngo earntrading classes, but it has been felt for years, and is further proved by our periodical Bank returns, that if further conveniences were afforded to people for investment of their savings, under guarantee of the State, a large number would be only too glad to avail themselves of the opportunity. CONCLUSION. I am not egotistical enough to suppose that the history of our finances and our proposals, ns outlined to you in the foregoing will receive the approval of everyone. Tho opponents of the present party in power will exercise their ingenuity in an endeavor to point out what, in their opinion, nrc defects or blemishes. This is as it should be. Healthy criticism docs good. I can say however, that mv desire has been that the true financial position of the country should be placed before you as clearly as possible, and without any attempt at concealment. Our present position is sound. It has in tho past been a characteristic of our colonists to overcome all obstacles which stood in the way of progress, and the sameundauntcdencrgynnuperscverauce may in the future be relied upon to further raise tho good name of the Colony.

The Hon Mr Ward resumed his seat amidst cheers from'both sid,psof flip Hot(sc. Till FIXiKCIAL pEB.\Tp ; 111 reply to Mr Sfitchplsoii, MvWanl sajil tlnjt the Government would be willing to take tlw financial debate on Friday or on Tuesday, as the Opposition wished. 'Mr Mitcliclson suggested Tuesday, and the Colonial Treasurer agreed to that day.