A BID FOR POPULARITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8036, 25 August 1887, Page 5

A BID FOR POPULARITY.

MR. BALLANCE AS AN ECONOMIST. [BX TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. The savings in the Native Department which the Minister will be able to lay before the House of Representatives are very considerable. The expenditure as shown in the Treasury returna for the Native Department for the quarter ended June last was £5309, as against £7022 for the corresponding quarter of last year. But a comparison of the expenditure for ISSG-S7 with that of 3574 75, under the head " Appropriations.by Parliament," for salaries and contingencies will give an Idea of tho great reductions which have been effected of late years. The official figure" for 1866-87 are £3111, and for 1874-75 £30,149. The Land Court expenditure, which is not included in the last comparison, has greatly increased since 1574, but the work has also very largely increased. The expenditure in 1574 was £5695, and in ISS6-87 £19 977. The vote to be taken for this year is £12,500, showing a reduction of £7000. The aggregate of salaries and pensions to natives chargeable to the Civil list for native purposes will bo reduced from £490" to £3556. The Minister hopes to accomplish a "largo saving by giving relief to uativea requiring it through local Boards,