AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXII, Issue 225, 15 October 1897, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

NEW SOUTH WALES FINANCIAL STATEMENT. [UNITED PBKBB ASSOCIATION.] Sydney, October 14. The Right Hon G. Reid delivered the financial statement. He briefly outlined the recent visit to England, and applauded Canada's action m lowering her duties. Those colonies which had a high tariff might well make a similar concession m favor of the mother country. When m England he devoted his best energies to 'secure assent to the Aliens Bill, but believed this impossible, the factor against it being the non exemption of British subjects from the scope of the measure. He hopes to make a definite statement on the subject next week. He expected to secure legislation on the subject, which, while not altogether meeting their wishes, might still prove effective and which would likely be assented to. The expenditure for the year was £9,505,000 ; the revenue, including £833,000 brought forward from the previous year, amounted to £9,625,000, leaving a balance to credit of £1,200,000. The railways revenue increased £194,000 over the estimate, and Land Department £82,000, while the land tax was less by £881,000. The income tax had increased £82,000, the customs showed a decrease of £12,000, but stamps yielded £22,000 more than the estimate. The Federal eleotion cost the colony £16,000. After the three years drought which the colony experienced, it was a matter for congratutation things were not worse than they were. Had average seasons prevailed the colony to-day would have been better off to the extent of 80,000 horses 558,000 cattle, and 23£ millions of sheep. The mining industry also suffered severely from the lack of rain, As showing the fiscal reform effected, compared with the customs collected during the year ended June, 1895, the taxpayer had been relieved through the customs of £828,000. Next year this total would be increased by £64,000. The relief to pastoralists cost £98,000, making a total of a million lost to the revenue of the colony, but left m the pockets of the people,