IMPROVEMENT OF THE COLONY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 37

IMPROVEMENT OF THE COLONY.

The latest returns regarding the population of the colony are very interesting, and show that since the present Government took office the population has increased by 233,000, and now stands at 900,632, so that Are are fast approaching a million of people. — (Applause.) Now, jt was very customary for 60010 of pur critics to talk about and .adversely oriticise the taxation per bead of our people. \ have on many occasions pointed out that it was absolutely invidious argument to attempt maVe out that the rate per head of taxation of our people implied an increase in the taxation of our country. Anomalous as it may appear to again put such a view before you, I say that it is a fact that such is not the case in the cense in which it is urged. Necessarily, the amount per head is very largely affected by the importation through the Customs, and if people in gxjod times import luxuries lite rate, per haad of Customs taxation necessarily goes up, but the fact remains that it is entirely in the hands of the people thamse'vos "whether they import luxuries or not »~{Applause.) If their- circumstaaioes did not

warrant it they would not do so, and there would, of necessity, be a diminution in the rate per head. I have here, howevor, the latest return under the land and income tax and the Customs revenue, which shows that four years ago the amount of the tax per head was £4 Is, in 1902 it was £3 18s 7d, and last year it was only £3 12s ss-a reduction of 6s 2d as against 1902. and B<j 7d as against four years ago. Now, m tue Customs there lias been since 1896 «n increase of 12s Id per head, and of that sum 5s 7d per head is distinctly for luxuries —namely, spirits, tobacco, cigarettes, and beer,— so that, outside- of these luxuries, there is an increase of Customs of 6s 6d per head. If you, therefore, look at the matter impartially you will see that this increase is one largely in the hands of the people tßemselveSj and- is <gpe of the attendant corollaries of good times.— (Applause.) Now,l have told you that the population of the colony has increased since the Government took office by 233,000, during tho same period the Chinese population has decreased 164-9. I will give you some further examples of the prosperity of our country. During the last 10 years the land under cultivation has increased by 3,740,000 acres, postal money orders have increased £700,000, railway receipts have increased £1,059,000, mileage of railways opened for traffic has increased 381 miles, shipping inwards and outwards has increased 1,300,000 tons (that would mean an increase one way of over half a million tons), wool has increased in value £524,000, export of butter has increased £1,258,000, cheese has increased £100,500. preserved meats have increased £71,594, frozen meat has increased £1,705-982, hemp 328,9421b. During the same period the doposits in the banks and savings banks have increased by £9,900,000, life insurance upon people's Jives has increased by £2,100,000. We have had a decrease of the number of sheep in the colony of 1,850,000, but cattle and horses have increased by 800,000. Look at the value of the frozen products exported and the figures I have presented to you. — (Applause.) Look at the value in the increase in our butter and cheese, which is now the third largest article of our expert produce, and it looks as though in the years to come it were going to take the first place in the list. At all events, it appears to be quite certain that the time is not very far distant when it will surpass in value the export of frozen meat. Further, employment in all directions in the colony is plentiful. — (Applause.) You will find the manufacturers, merchants, and business men generally are doing well. The increased accumulations of the savings of the people in the banks and savings banks of nearly £10,000,000 of money in 10 years is a strong answer to those pessimists who have been crying out that blue ruin is staring us in the face — that capital is leaving the country. These predictions have been shown to be baseless and without foundation in fact. — (Applause.) Now, in connection with luxuries, it is quite oleai* that our people are going in for luxuries from the fact that during the last two years there have been imported into our country 6000 organs and pianos juad harmoniums. This Bhows that the people are in a musical humour, and that accounte-for the -manner in which they, ar-e now singing 1 the prajs&3 of the Government that during a time of many 6iffieull->es lias piloted the affairs of State in a manner which it must be admitted on the whole has been successful, — (Applause.)