THE MINISTER FOR LANDS AT INVERCARGILL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 86, 13 April 1898, Page 2

THE MINISTER FOR LANDS AT INVERCARGILL.

" A CONFIDENTIAL REVELATION." THAT WONDERFUL SURPLUS. I AN EARLY SESSION OF PARLIA- [ MENT. DEFYING THE OPPOSITION. (From Our Special Correspondent) DUNEDIN, April 12. Sneaking at Invercargill on Saturday night, Mr John McKenzie, Minister of | I Lands, said that now for tho first time in [ the history of the colony was he going to reveal at this oarly date after the close | of tho financial year (31st March) the Jinanoial particulars for the post year, i Some of the figures he had to give approximately, because there were certain J adjustments whioh might have to be | made with one department and another ; : but he would give the lowest possible and the highest probable amounts where this was the case. The surplus for the j year, inoluding a balance from the former year, would be from ,£470,000 to £495,000. The approximate expenditure' for the year was between £4,625,000 and j £1,650,000, plus £300,000 transferred to the Pnblio Works Fund. The approximate increases in revenue over the estimates for the year under various head- ! ings were aB follows :— Ordinary revenue £247,000 j customs £55,000 j stamps | £40,000 j land and income tax £17,000 j i beer duty £6000 ; railways £91,000 j miscellaneous £17,000 j teohnioal education £12,000. Mr McKenzie said Parliament was going to be called to meet early this year and the Opposition could stone- I wall if they pleased to Christmas, but the Government was determined that the measures introduced last session should be put on the Statute Book, .