Mr Bryce on the Situation.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 78, 21 October 1890, Page 2

Mr Bryce on the Situation.

Figures at all times are dry reading r but perhaps the following figures given by. Mr- Bryce in his speech at the - •Waikato may prove that the Colony is: not going to get out of its difficulties by," the skinflint process, but sometning' more, statesmanlike will have to be adopted :—" The public do not sum-: ciently appreciate that a very large' part of this Colony's expenditure doesnot admit of retrenchment—the payments can neither be reduced nor. evaded. The interest and sinking fund on our public debt alone, by the Treasurer's last'statement, amounts to £1,875,000,' and the other payments; fixed bysfcatuteto £26B,oooadditional. In the ints'rest on our debt and other charges fixed by law, we have thus £2,144,000 to which the pruning-knife cannot be applied, h&i me now point out the items'of-revenue absorbed by these fixed charges. The whole'of the estimated .Customs revenue is required (say) £1,375,000; the whole of the-Property-Tax, £355,000; the Beer '

duty, £54,000 ; Ragistration, £39,300; Marine, £19,700; Miscellaneous, £40,000; and £261,000 from the Stamp duties to make up the total* ! All these items, the most important, sources of our revenue, are required ta pay charges we'cannot 'hope to, alter.. After doing this, let us see ; what is left, to promote settlement and carry on the. G-Qvemmentof tlie country. Profits on working, railways £402,0.00, depasturing rents £191,000, proceeds of debentures on sinking fund . increases. £288,000, balance of stamp -duties, £351,000;. total, £1,232,000. Leaving out of consideration the land, revenue, and land department, which for years has not paid its way, oi' our yearly revenue we use £2,144,000 to. discharge . liabilities we. can neither alter nor avoid, and we have less than one and a'quarter millions left to aid the Land Fund in the promotion of settlement, and to carry on the whole government of the Colony where not provided for by statute. Perhaps the fall significance of the position will be seen when I say that out of thia £1,232,000 the departments of Defence and Police, Justice, Post and Telegraph* ,and Education, demand more than. £900,000, leaving lifctkr m-ore thai* £300,000 for the/ xenjaining;: departmente of for legislation and its departments, and for the aid of the land fund hi the, promotion of settlen^ent."