8.—6

1893. NF.W ZEALAND.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT (In Committee of Supply, 4th July, 1893) BY THE COLONIAL TREASURER, THE HONOURABLE Mr. WARD.

Me. Eees, — The last Financial Statement was delivered in the House of Bepresentatives by the late Premier, the Hon. John Ballance, on the 30th June, 1892. At that time no one anticipated that he would not have been present to-night to have carried on his successful administration of the finances of the colony under the altered conditions inaugurated by him. By the lamented death of Mr. Ballance the Colony of New Zealand has lost one of its ablest public men, and one whose whole career bore testimony to the fact that he was devoted heart and soul to the furtherance of its welfare. Following such a predecessor, I am conscious it is no ordinary task I have undertaken. I took the office with great and natural misgivings, but my hesitation is now allayed by a feeling of confidence that I shall without doubt receive the generous consideration and assistance of honourable members. Personally. I deeply regret that it did not fall to the lot of the late Treasurer to place before the Committee to-night a Financial Statement the results of which have probably not been equalled in the previous history of the Under the circumstances of my very recent accession to the Colonial Treasurer ship, I am sure the Committee will not expect anything more than a plain statement of the facts which have occurred during the past year, and an outline of our present intentions. It will be my earnest endeavour to lay before you the figures and facts as clearly as possible, in order that both the Committee and the country may be enabled to grasp easily the true financial position of the colony. I now ask your attention while I place before you the position of the CONSOLIDATED FUND (OEDINAEY EEVENUE ACCOUNT). Revenue and Expendituke op the Yeae 1892-93. It is very gratifying to be able to state that the actual revenue from almost all sources substantially exceeded the estimate. The following figures show the receipts of the past year, and the details will be found in the usual tables attached to this Statement. The estimated revenue for the year was set down as £4,326,100; whereas the actual receipts amounted to £4,499,836, or £173,736 more than the estimate ; and of this amount the Customs duties provided an excess of £67,590 ; Stamps, £36,424; Eailways, £34,099 ; the Land-and Incometax, £14,548; and smaller heads of revenue, £9,075. In addition to these sums, £17,125 was received from the Property-tax, including £11,579 paid by the

Introductory,

Tables Nos. 1 and 2. Bevenue 1892-93 exoeedod estimate by £173,736.

I—B. 6.