SPEECH BY ACTING-PREMIER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10963, 4 May 1907, Page 2

SPEECH BY ACTING-PREMIER.

COLONY'S FINANCES PROSPEROUS.

SURPLUS OF £717,825.

(Per Press Association.)

TIMARU, last night. Tlie Hon. W. Hall-Jones had a cordial reception at Uie Tlieatre Royal to-night. His address dealt at some length with the finance of the year. The ordinary revenue accounts were shown as follows: — Revenue £8,399,575, sinking fund accretions £66,000, other receipts £13,881. Expenditure : Permanent charges £3,038,---120, annual appropriations £4,736,806), exoess of receipts over expenditure £704,---030, balance from last year's surplus (£788,795) £13,795, which leit an excess afc 31st March last of £717,825. Tlie railway revenue last year showed an increase over the previous year of £282,978. Tlie passengers carried sliowed a large increase, and the increase m wages to railway employes since 1895 was given as £375,000. The Minister, m. dealing with the Customs, referred to the remission of £2,509,---957 since 1895, postage rates and telegraphs were reduced by £27,500, and railway fares and fieights £750,000. The expenditure on old age pensions last- year was £313,826. Dealing with land, the Minister said the saving to the people by tlie Advances to Settlers Office through the fixing of a reasonable rate of interest ran into millions fo pounds. The public works fund had received £2,410,_78, and expended £2,050,978, and they had a balance of £415,800 to start the year with. The Acting-Premief made feeling reference to the losses by death of members of Parliament and the public service. In speaking of his term as Premier, he contended that the course he had taken was the only honorable course that could be taken. He made reference to the conferences now sitting at Home, and referred at length to the prosperity the colony was enjoying. Speaking on the Land Bill, he said he generally favored the leasehold system. 'The Legislative Council appointments were very satisfactory. Regarding the, proposal to harness waterpower, lie was not m favor of undertaking the work unless the Government raised special moneys, and profits were m sight m two years. A vote of thanks and of continued confidence m the Government and Mr Hall-Jones were passed.