CANADIAN FEDERAL FINANCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 489, 23 April 1909, Page 5

CANADIAN FEDERAL FINANCE.

Ottawa, April 21. The Hon. W. S. Fielding, Minister for Finance, speaking in tho Dominion House of Commons, estimated the revenue of Canada for the past year at 84,500,000 dollars (£16,900,000)—12 per cent, below that of the previous year. There would, however, be a surplus of a million and a half dollars (£300,000), owing to a reduction in the ordinary expenditure. [For the first time for many months (wrote "The Times" early in March) the Canadian Customs returns for February show an increase, the duty collected being* ,£822,729, an increase of ,£4980. Although the increase is small, it is regarded as evidence of 'returning prosperity. The total decrease in the duty during the 11 months of this financial year is .£2,179,991. The "Canadian Courier," a weekly newspaper in Toronto, has secured the views of representative men on the trade and financial prospecsa of the Dominion. The, trend ofj opinion (received is that merchants are' purchasing with great caution, and that manuiacturers are working on conservative lines. Mr. Edward Guraey, a leading foundrynian, declares that national confidence has already been restored. Mr. Byron E. Walker, president of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, expects normal conditions only after another good orop.] DINIZULU NO LONGER A STATE SERVANT. • • , Durban, April 21. The .dismissal from tho Government service of Dinizulu, who was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sheltering rebels, has been gazetted,at Durban. [After the arrest of Dinizulu, the Natal Government stopped the salary of J-500 a year which tho chief received as a Government official. In response to strong representations in the House of Commonv the Impeual Government then decided to pay the.salary, the Secretary for'the Colonies (Lord Crewe) holding that the stoppage was unwarranted. The case for the Natal Government was that Dinizulu's service and salary were automatically determined as soon as he was arrested on a charge of treason. Since then Dinizulu has been convicted, and the Natal Government is now strengthening its contention by gazetting him out of its service. It will be remembered that only a few days ago the Secretary for the Colonies, in a dispatch accepting the Court's verdict (four years, imprisonment), said he assumed that provision had been made for. Dinizulu's maintenance after his sentence had been served. A recent description of Dinizulu, who is now 89 year's'of age, states:-" He'is enormously fat,, is said to drink heavily, and is of a dropsical tendency. Ho can read and write English, and has been known to solace himself by playing simple airs upon a small organ."] EMPIRE PRESS CONFERENCE.* nn.' nr ««. . Lo 1d"on, April 21. i.ha War Office is arranging a special sham fight on June 11 in honour of the journalists attending the Imperial Press Conference. A LIBEL'ACTION. a '.*• r. , London, April 21. An action brought against the Earl of Roseberv by Mr. Drysdhle (formerly, factor ° n »,„ „S? s 1 bor y' s Dahneny estate), claiming £10,000 damages for libel, has been dismissed, the Judge remaiking, in justice to tho_ plaintiff, that the result of the investigation of accounts was a satisfactory one. THE BROKEN~HILL TROUBLE. _ _, T Sydney, April 22. tfosser and Lyons, accused of maliciously damaging the railway line at Broken Hill, were tried at Albury and acquitted, tho ]ury stating that tho'evidence was not strong enough to warrant a conviction. (Rec. April 22, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, April 22. The trial of Tom Mann upon fivo counts pt conspiracy, not, and unlawful assembly in connection with tho Broken Hill ances has commenced at Albury. ANOTHER CONDEMNATION OF OUR LIQUOR LAWS. Brisbane, April 22. A report prepared by Police Magistrate Kankmg upon tho New Zealand Licensing laws has been submitted to the Chief" Secretary. The contents of tho report are not divulged, but it is understood to be adverse to New Zealand Prohibition laws, the work of drafting a Licensing Bill for submission to the next session of the Queensland Parliament is progressing. CHARGE AGAINST A SOLICITOR. nr t> _, „ , Sydne yi April 22. Mr. Party, a well-known solicitor, has been arrested.on a chargo of stealing large sums of money, the property of tho trustees of tho Grand Lodge of Druids. FROM DOWNING STREET. „.. _ , T Melbourne, April 22. Sir Charlos Lucas, head of the Dominions D6partment of the Colonial Office, has arrived hero. Ho will visit Tasmania next week. SHRINKAGE OF VICTORIAN LIVE STOCK. Melbourne, April 22. A return issued by tho Government Statist shows that owing to tho dry season last year there was a large shrinkage of live stock, representing a money losd of nearly three millions.