THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 76, 1 April 1891, Page 3

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. VALUABLE STATISTICS OF AUSTRA. I\SIA. [UNITID PRESS ASBOOtATION.] (Received April 1, noon.) Sydney, This Day. Retnrni attaohed to the report furnished | by the Finanoe Committee Bhow that there are 641,000 males of military age, and 1,067,406 of supporting age, in Australasia, exclusive of Maoris. It is estimated tlie population of Australasia last December was 3,900,000. The amount of import duties reoeived is equal to £2 6b 5d per head of population, and the oost of oolleoting oustoms and excise duties averaged 29 per oent. The following estimate of expenditure of the Federal Government has been prepared on the basis of the present population : — Civil Government. .£639,000. Collection of revenue, .£270,000. Pefonc3, £750,C30 To reooup loss on services, £200,000 Intereat on works taken over by the Federal Government from the various colonies. £367X30 Total, £2,226,000, being equal to Us 5d per head of population. The imports of Australasia during the year 1889 amounted to .£60,043,423, while the publio expenditure, including payments to the sinkin? fund, totalled £28,431,554, being equal to £7 12a 2d per head. The revenue of the Post and Telegraph and Money Order Departments was £1,955,298, and expenditure £2,080,623. the deficiency beta? equal to Is 6d per head. The Australasian loans up to the end of 1889, as far as can be stated, amounted to £181.817,271, the interest payable being £7,515,996, at the rate of 4*149 per cent. The expenditure on Defence in 1889 amounted to 33 9d per head of the population. The defenoe force numbered 29,624 men. The amount of loan money expended in fortifioations was equal to 9s 8d par head. The Constitution Bill is divided into eight ohapters, containing a total of 131 olansea.