THE PREMIER AT MARTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10359, 14 May 1895, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT MARTON.

A BRIEF FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Tt.o ti at. „' ■- Marton, April 19. me Hon. the Premier addressed a crowded audience at the theatre this evening. The premier confined his opening remarks to the vvangatmi campaign, and referred fco Captain IWlls and Mr Hutchison's speeches. Whilst approving of the public men Of the colony gravelling through the country and coming in touch with tie people and acquainting them wifch matters of public importance he^ repudiated sympathy with personalities *._" _f?: Sv? rry t0 say both Captain Russell and Mr Eutchiaon had descended to this, and thouehfc ifc became neither of them. He dealt with several matters referred to by the Opposition speakers m detail. Ho sconted the idea that hia. wife had been influenced by him in selling B-nk of New Zealand B h ares f ayjn*L~ ™» sam<* were sold in Septeml ber 1890. and were only 20 in number and worth £83. Regarding the Bank o? New Z<£ land, he said, that, he considered the Government had saved^the colony from a national'1 disaster, and; he felt sure that the people o wl7h ™l and ,aPf ecia*ed the i4 is f ation> With reference to the appointment of Mr Fraser as bergeant-afc-Arms, he considered Mr Fraser S&,™. Unfairly- treated ** *^c Press, and said it fche same circumstances occurred again he would make the same appointment. He referred to Mr Hutchison's assertion that there must be & deficit, and proceeded to show that the contrary was the case. On the question of finance, he said he would make a mosfc important statement which would be hailed with aelight throughout the colony. The actual receipts for the year 1394-5 were £4,406 515 and the actual expenditure £4.266,722 The excess of receiptsoverexpenditure was £139,793 and the balance to begin the year £290,238 The gross surplus for the year was £430,031. Of this, sum £250,000 had been paid into the £„„,« mufn?id* leaving a"nefc sur Plus °f ilßU.ldl. The customs revenue had been declining ;for some time pasb, and the revenue was under the estimate by £30,000 ; while fche railways showed a shortage of £17i000, chiefly owing to fche falling off of grain export;. Under other heads the revenue.more than compensated for these losses, and at the end of the year the revenue exceeded the estimate by £47 000 This was a matter of general congratulation! i-urmg the year the public works expenditure under part 1 had been • £317,000, the lowest since the public works policy was inaugurated. Of the net surplus of £180,000, there will be Dblic Works £2V fcl-e current year £150,000 The unexpended, balance on the 31.t March 1895 was £259,009,;50 that wifch £150 000 from the^cooi-olidafced fund this would leave er£*o°.ooo for .expenditure during 1895-6 lHr; beddon touched on;several other matters mentioned m former speeches, and received a hearty vote of thanks for'; his address and of confidence in the Government