8.—6

III

Statement of the Estimated Revenue compared with the Actual Revenue of the Consolidated Fund for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1905.

Expenditure. The amount expended reached the sum of £6,635,902, which exceeded that of the previous year to the extent of £201,621, of which the permanent charges absorbed £57,055, and the annual charges £144,566. Comparing the actual expenditure with the estimates, there was a saving of £21,683 in the permanent charges and of £142,862 in the annual appropriations, making a total saving for the year of £164,545. Referring again to the excess of expenditure over the annual charges of the preceding year, I find that the services provided by the Postmaster-General, the expenditure upon Education, the increased earnings of the Railways producing increased expenditure, and unforeseen expenditure out of " Unauthorised " are accountable for £118,570 of the excess; and if we add £11,977 in the Justice Department, £2,211 for the Lunacy and Charitable Institutions, and £3,759 for Police, we reach a further sum of £17,947, or, in all, £136,517, undoubtedly representing increased expenditure consequent upon the increased requirements of our country which follow prosperity and increased population. The balance of £8,049 in the excess of expenditure under votes is not worth comment. In addition to the ordinary expenditure, transfers to the Public Works Fund to the amount of £600,000 were made during the year. Results. We commenced the year with a balance of £649,741, and transferred, as I have said, £600,000 to the Public Works Fund, leaving a net balance of £49,741. The excess of receipts over the expenditure amounted to £711,295, thus producing a balance of £761,036 at the close of the year 1904-5. This gratifying result I have already announced to the public.

Difference. Consolidated Fund. Estimated. Actual. More. Less. ievenue Account — Customs Railways Stamps Land-tax Income-tax Beer duty Registration and other fees Marine Miscellaneous ... Territorial revenue __ £ 2,610,000 2,180,000 1,095,000 330,000 222,000 100,000 93,000 34,800 140,000 230,000 £ 2,631,984 2,217,767 1,160,119 352,854 253,952 96,210 103,465 36,121 170,378 260,020 £ 21,984 37,767 65,119 22,854 31,952 I 10,465 1,321 i 30,378 30,020 £ 3,790 251,860 3,790 3,790 Totals 7,034,800 . 7,034,800 7,282,870 248,070