The Northern Advocate.

Northern Advocate, 14 May 1887, Page 2

The Northern Advocate.

On Tuesday night, most unexpectedly, 'the Colonjal Treasurer delivered to the House his Financial Statement, which, as usual, is both plausable and delusive. The distinctive characteristics of Sir Julius Yogel are too well known to enable him to blind men's eyes and lead their 'judgements astray by his seductive statements, as of Qld. Few men can make black look like white, can make failure appear success, can makereckless extravagance assume the guise of economy, can make criminal gambling seem laudable and praisewarthv enterprise,' \ so well as the Colonial Secretary. Referring to the deficiency he says, "When account is taken of the supplementary estimate brought down after the Financial Statement last year was delivered, my expectations amounted to a small surplus of £ 1 500. I greatly regret there is instead a deficiency j but, considering the fears which have been expressed of its amounting to a very large sum, hon. members will, I believe, be glad to learn that it amounts to no more than £92,293. I cannot accept any blame for this result. The circumstances which usually lead to estimated revenue falling short have been conspicuously present ; moreover, I informed the House last session that I feared the expected revenue would not be large. Tins is the first deficit since I resumed office in 1884, and I think I have reason to be gratified, and that the present amount is comparatively small, seeing how I have been disappointed during this period in other places. The amount of the deficiency can be identified in the statement of the revenue and expenditure, and the consolidated fund, by deducting the credit balance £186,805 from the outstanding deficiency bills of £279,100." Although Sir Julius prides himself that " this is ' the first deficit since he resumed office in 1884,? yet the last year's Statement was so questionable a thing that none competent to judge regarded it other than a "cooked affair," and that things were not as represented. Again, as an evidence of the dexterity with which he handles figures and ( appropriates funds altogether foreign to revenue, he keeps

out of sight in the paragraph, quoted the fact that '" the deficit is so small" because he impounded £100,000 of sinking fund which had accrued upon some old loans, which would otherwise have doubled his deficit. It must, therefore, be clearly understood that this appropriation of other monies does not alter the fact that the year's revenue falls short of the year's expenditure by £200,000, and not £92,293, as stated. The off-hand and careless way in which the Colonial Secretary refers to this appropriation is amusing were it not so serious a matter. He says, in justification, " There is no more impropriety in doing this than there is in re-borrowing to pay off a loan -which is about to fall due." Common sense dictates that, the man who has recourse to expedients such as these in the management of colonial revenue, cannot possibly have the confidence of the country, and such an administration is calculated everywhere not only to damage our country's reputation, but place us yet more deeply in the mire. It is pretty generally felt, bqth in and out of the House, that the sudden introduction of the Financial Statement was prompted by the hope that attention would be drawn from the all engrossing subject of the Representation Bill. IE this was so, the plan has signally failed, for the opposition have resolved not to deal with the -Statement for the present, but help to push through the Representation Bill, so that, if a dissolution takes place, they; will be able to go to the country on the adjusted representation, which adds 73,000 to countrj districts. We are pleased that this is the resolve of the opposition, for nc business of moment should be undertaken in the House until this vital, but lone: delayed, question is settled.