with which the public obtain somewhat similar information of the year's results of the Australian Colonies; but a little reflection will show that the cases are dissimilar, inasmuch as they have in each colony only one or two centres, and, more important still, the information supplied has not been audited; while in our colony, with quite ten centres, we are obliged to wait until the accounts reach the Treasury from long distances, to be afterwards examined and passed by the Audit officers before they can be finally included in the public accounts of the colony. With this explanation I will now proceed to give you a close approximate result of the past year's financial operations, which will be sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes. The information which I know you are all anxious to ascertain is as to the surplus-for there really is a surplus, and a handsome one too. Well, I make this to be at least £340,000, arrived at thus: Receipts for the year £ 4,796,000 4,671,000 125,000 This is an exceedingly satisfactory result, I am sure you will be willing to allow. And these figures would have been better still had it not been for the necessity to charge three half-yearly payments of the interest on the Advances to Settlers Loan of £1,500,000 during the past year, so as to bring the accounts in line with the dates upon which the interest is paid over to the Bank of England in London. This extra half-year's interest having to be met has decreased the surplus by £22,500. The Advances to Settlers Office is doing well; for, notwithstanding it has had had to pay £67,500 within the year, it has only required an advance from the Consolidated Fund to the extent of £26,000. For this current year, and hereafter, of course, only £45,000 per annum will require to be paid for interest on the £1,500,000 loan, and there is a certainty that the office will soon be able to provide for each year's charge, and to pay off the arrears of debt due to the Consolidated Fund. I do not propose to weary you with a mass of figures connected with the results of last year's Treasury work. I have already reminded you that such figures as I shall be able to place before you must not be considered final, but only approximate, and therefore I am sure you will excuse me if I confine myself to the main features of our receipts and expenditure. AS TO THE RECEIPTS FOR 1896–97. The receipts for the financial year 1896-97 were estimated at £4,484,000, while the actual receipts, so far as I can at present learn, have reached £4,796,000. Customs revenue exceeded the estimate by £148,500, Railways by | £86,000, Stamps by £38,500, Land- and Incometax by £17,500, Territorial by £5,500, and the remaining heads of revenue and receipts by £16,000. These tell their own tale, and it is quite superfluous to observe that they evidence a substantial increase in the material prosperity of our colony. EXPENDITURE OF 1896-97. The approximate results of the revenue can be ascertained with a considerable degree of certainty, but it is more difficult to furnish an estimate of the actual expenditure. It has to be remembered that on the close of business on the 31st March last over £230,000 of imprest moneys were outstanding against the Ordinary Revenue Account of the Consolidated Fund. This amount is reduced by the departments dealing with the imprestees' vouchers, and charging the votes with the respective amounts paid, and also by the cash repayments by the imprestees of their respective balances on the 31st ultimo. If, on the one hand, we estimate the expenditure out of imprests at too large a figure, we unduly reduce the surplus, while, on the other hand, if our estimate is too little, the surplus is proportionately increased. The Treasury and the departments concerned have, however, made very careful estimates, and I am able to submit the results with every confidence. The figures, however, must not be accepted as final; but the alterations are not likely to be large. I estimate our permanent expenditure, including interest and sinking fund, subsidies, payments to local bodies of endowment moneys, pensions, &c., at £2,076,000. My estimate for the year was £2,093,000. For the annual appropriations members were good enough to vote £2,438,000. I do not anticipate, however, that the final expenditure will reach more than £2,420,000. Under the two heads, therefore, a saving of some £35,000 may be expected. Economy has been rigidly practised by departments; but members, I am sure, do not expect large savings to be effected, as it would bear the appearance of having asked the Committee for sums in excess of what was really required. To this expenditure there has also to be added £150,000 transferred to the Public Works Fund out of the previous year's surplus, and also £26,000 advanced to the Advances to Settlers Office. I do not propose on this occasion to submit what I call the minor accounts connected with the Consolidated Fund, such as the "Accounts of Local Bodies," " Deposits," &c., but I shall at once pass on to the more important accounts, and take up the state of the Public Works Fund. Part I. of this fund commenced the year with a balance of £31,150, and also received £150,000 from the Consolidated Fund surplus of the previous year. Other miscellaneous receipts swelled the available balance to £196,413. During the year we were able to raise £750,000 of the £1,000,000 authorised under "The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896," and, of this, £375,000 was credited to Part I., making the total receipts, including the balance brought forward, £571,413. The expenditure, after the im- | prests have been duly accounted for, I estimate at £420,655, leaving a balance of £150,758. £250,000 has still to be raised under the Act I have just mentioned, so that there will be further funds available for this account to the amount of £125,000, which, with the amount in hand and the usual assistance from the Consolidated Fund, should be amply sufficient for our requirements during the current year. Part II. had a balance of £13,900 to begin the year with expenditure will be charged so as to clear off this balance. This account is now practically merged in Part I., where further appropriations for the North Island Main Trunk Railway have been provided. The Lands Improvement and Native Lands Purchase Accounts have also been placed in funds to the amount of £187,500 each through the raising of the three-quarters of a million under "The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896," and with the proceeds of debentures amounting to £52,000 raised under the Act of 1894. The estimated expenditure of the Lands Improvement Account is set down at £109,000, leaving a balance of £134,500 to go on with. In the Native Lands Purchase Account the expenditure is estimated | at £127,000, leaving a balance of £97,200 to provide for purchases during the current year. As I have before mentioned, there is still a balance of a quarter of a million to be raised under "The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896," and when the proceeds have been received the Lands Improvement Account and the Native Lands Purchase Account will each be entitled to be credited with £62,500 of the £250,000 to be raised. With these sums available, I am satisfied that the works in progress to improve and open up the roading of the country will be steadily continued, and further lands can be acquired from the Natives, and our engagements in this direction successfully carried out. Some large estates have been purchased under "The Land for Settlements Act, 1894," for which purpose £297,300 has been raised during the past year, and this amount, with some £20,000 derived from rents, has been sufficient to provide for an expenditure of £312,500, leaving a balance in hand of £6,000. I am able to place before you the usual table of the Public Debt. The gross total has increased by £1,315,838, and the net debt by £1,280,682. Of this sum, however, one million is absolutely represented by equivalent assets, and the interest thereon is paid back to the Treasury by those who have obtained the benefit of the expenditure. Of the million authorised by "The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1896," £750,000 has been raised; deposits amounting to £136,015 under "The New Zealand Consols Act, 1864," have I shall presently deal very briefly with the been received; £93,800 of debentures under operations within the Public Debt and Con-The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, version Accounts, but at this point, I think, it may be convenient to recapitulate some of the balances. 1886," have been issued; purchases under "The Land for Settlements Act, 1894," have required the issue of £297,300 of debentures; and for the purpose of opening roads and giving access to lands, £52,000 of debentures under "The Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894," have been sold; £70,300 was issued as sinking fund debentures under "The Consolidated Stock Act, 1884," but of this amount only £20,000 was issued against the accretion of sinking fund of the loans to local bodies; and £56,891 of stock was inscribed at 3 and 3 per cent. for the purposes of conversion and redemption of other Government securities. On the other hand, we have paid off or redeemed various parcels of debenture stock amounting to £87,068, and have converted £53,400 of debentures into lower interest-bearing inscribed stock. EXPECTATIONS FOR THE RECESS. Of course you will expect me to say something about the financial expectations during the time between the 31st March last past and the time when further supplies will be granted. In the first place I shall ask you to extend the appropriations from three months (as provided for by the Public Revenues Act of last session) to twenty-eight weeks, or, say, to the 14th October next. The Public Revenues Act provides that no payment shall be made for any services than those for which provision was made in the respective Appropriation Acts and estimates of the preceding year, or in excess of the scale therein set forth. You therefore tie me down in a narrower compass than would be the case if I were to ask you merely for supply under Imprest Supply Bills. Some effect of this restrictive appropriation is to drain the £100,000 provided for unauthorised expenditure; and it happens frequently, so the Treasury officials inform me, that the limit of £100,000 is practically exhausted by the time that Parliament usually meets, and Imprest Supply Bills are obtained. Under these circumstances I am going to ask you for a temporary increase for "unauthorised " expenditure, so that the limit of £100,000 may be raised to £150,000 for services not provided for between this and the 14th October next. You understand that all "unauthorised " expenditure incurred before the estimates are passed has to be included in the estimates and appropriations of the year, and, of course, the whole of the expenditure made under the extended appropriations. Last year's appropriations for Consolidated Fund services amounted to £2,438,000, one-half of which, for services required to the 30th September next, will amount to £1,219,000. Add to this а moiety of permanent charges, £1,047,000; additional estimated expenditure for two weeks, £175,000: making a total for the twenty-eight weeks of £2,441,000 required for expenditure. Our receipts during last year produced, as I have stated, approximately, £4,796,000, but of this amount £377,500, for land- and income-tax, was received, and will again be received, during the second half of the year, so that this amount will not be available until after October. The lull in mining business in the Auckland Provincial District may affect the receipts from Customs and Stamps; and, unhappily, the accounts of the grain crops from the Canterbury and North Otago Districts justify me in thinking that our railway revenue may also suffer. But let it be understood that I am by no means depreciating the probabilities of our income; but, as I thoroughly believe in strong finance, I think it is best to place the position candidly before you. Our resources may be stated thus: I have put these figures before you so as to show you that there is no uncertainty as to the finances being amply sufficient to meet requirements until Parliament is again in session. I must, at the same time, state that the first half of the year is very much the worst half so far as the revenue is concerned; on the other hand, the expenditure is scarcely likely to reach the figures quoted. Members will notice that I have included a sum of £73,000 for sinking-fund debentures to be issued during this current year; but I am carefully considering whether the time has not arrived, as the finances of the colony appear to be able to bear it, to dispense altogether with the issue of debentures against the accretions of sinking fund derived from the loans to local bodies. Probably next session I shall ask you to have the law amended in this direction. I hope that, in placing before the House this memorandum and accompanying tables, honourable members will recognise the difficulties there mation in a more complete form. I trust, are in the way of giving the necessary inforhowever, that I have sufficiently demonstrated that there is no cause whatever for any anxiety in respect to the financial position of the colony. I move, Sir, That this statement be laid upon the table, and be printed. I have just received it from the Printer. There are some slight alterations required, but substantially it will remain the same. The printers will get to work on it at once, and I hope to have it in members' pigeon-holes the first thing in the morning. Motion agreed to. The House adjourned at eight minutes past ten o'clock p.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, 8th April, 1897. jesty's reign? That, I think, is the foundation of the whole question before us; and if we decide in the affirmative-that it is necessary First Reading-Congratulations and Rejoicings on that the colony should be represented on that Her Majesty's Sixtieth Year of Reign-Chair-occasion-the question is, Who shall represent man of Committees - Address in Reply-Appointments to Legislative Council - Legislative Council Bill. us, and what shall the representation be? I take it the invitation from the Secretary of State for the Colonies will be agreed to, in so far as that he has invited the Premiers of this The Hon. the SPEAKER took the chair at and other colonies to take part in this celebrahalf-past two o'clock. PRAYERS. FIRST READING. Legislative Council Bill. CONGRATULATIONS AND REJOICINGS ON HER MAJESTY'S SIXTIETH YEAR OF REIGN. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. W. C. WALKER, & Select Committee was appointed to consider and recommend to Parliament the course which should be taken to most appropriately represent, on behalf of Her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand, their congratulations and rejoicings on the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign; such Committee to have power to confer with a similar Committee of the House of Representatives; three to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of the Hon. the Speaker, the Hon. Captain Baillie, the Hon. Mr. T. Kelly, the Hon. Mr. Montgomery, the Hon. Mr. Oliver, and the Mover. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. The Hon. Mr. W. C. WALKER.-In moving the motion standing in my name, That the Hon. Captain Baillie be appointed Chairman of Committees, in compliance with Standing Order No. 253, I am sure it is with great pleasure that the Council will receive the proposal that Captain Baillie be again elected Chairman of Committees. He has been chosen for so many years to that important office, and has given satisfaction to the Council so long, that I am quite sure it will be the pleasure of the Council to re-elect him so long as he is still a member of the Council. Motion agreed to. ADDRESS IN REPLY. The Hon. Mr. PINKERTON.-In rising to move the motion standing in my name, I should like to say this: that, having only one subject before us, I consider it is not necessary for me to speak at any great length. However, I wish, in order to make the matter clear, to give one or two reasons why I think the Address proposed in reply to the Speech of his Excellency the Administrator should be adopted. It is not necessary, I think, for me to read the Address, as honourable members have it before them on the Order Paper; and I shall simply, as briefly as I can, move that the Address be approved of. However, I shall proceed to make a few remarks as to why this should be done. I think, to begin with, we may ask fairly, Shall or shall not this colony be represented at the celebrations of the sixtieth year of Her Ma VOL. XCVII.-3. tion, and he has also suggested that it is a fitting time for us to be represented not only by the Premier, but that a contingent of our military forces and Natives, if need be, should accompany the Premier to take part in the celebrations, and show, at any rate, that we in New Zealand are perfectly willing to be one with the rest of the colonies, and with the whole of the Empire, in doing our fair share of what we may consider to be our duty. I think it goes without saying that, if this colony fails to be represented in the manner in which it is proposed to be represented, it will not only be no credit to itself, but it will do what I believe to be a lasting injury. It has always been said that if a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well. I think that on this occasion New Zealand should not be behind the other colonies in taking her fair share of responsibility, by sending Home the Premier to represent us there, and also the contingent, both of military and of Maoris. Before I go further in this respect, I may say that what has led up to this is known to all of us-that is to say, the cause of the celebration is the long, peaceful, and prosperous reign of Queen Victoria, who has now completed, or is about to complete in the month of June, the sixtieth year of her reign; and that has been considered to be a fitting occasion for all the colonies and the most distant parts of the Empire to have representatives present in London to confer with one another, and so honour the position and name of Her Majesty, of whom I think there are none who have not the highest word of praise. It has been agreed, I think almost unanimously, that the reign of Queen Victoria is a reign the like of which has never before been experienced in any part of the world. It has been a reign of peace, progress, and prosperity; and I do not venture to say that that has been entirely brought about by Her Majesty. We know there are various causes for that state of things; but, had it not been for that reign of peace, progress, and prosperity, the intelligence and scientific attainments of the present day could never have been achieved. Peace was one of the conditions which enabled that to be brought about, and although Her Majesty personally might not have contributed a very large amount to that achievement, still we all know that any influence which she has-and the influence of monarchs, men or women, is very considerable— has been fully and freely given in the cause of humanity. So that, from that point of view, I think we are justified in taking advantage of the present condition of things to show that we in New Zealand are quite as loyal as those in other parts of the Empire, and fully appreciate the invitation that has been sent to the Premier. There is, perhaps, another reason why our Premier should go to England. I will not say anything more at present about the reign of Her Majesty, but there is, I think, another good reason why the Premier should go to England, and that is, for the purpose of conferring with the various Premiers or leading men of the distant parts of the Empire and also at Home. We consider that in all organizations it is a benefit to meet in conference to talk over differences of opinion that may exist-if there are differences of opinion, and there generally are-and to place as fully and fairly before the men from the various countries the conditions of their own country, discover what would be suitable for us, and point out what would probably be suitable for them-in fact, to exchange ideas, exchange thoughts and experiences-an occurrence which I am quite sure would be of great benefit to every one taking part in such deliberations. That, I dare say, we are pretty well agreed upon. There may be-indeed, there are-some differences of opinion regarding the sending Home of the military detachment or a contingent of the Native race. I may say that at first I myself thought this was unnecessary. I thought perhaps we could spend the amount of money required for that purpose to better advantage; but, on further consideration, I think we would not be doing justice to ourselves if we did not fall in with the other colonies by sending Home a contingent both of military and of Natives. It will show, at any rate, whatever may take place in the Empire, that this most distant part of Her Majesty's dominion is quite prepared to do its little share with the rest; and should there be any time and I hope there will not-when the assistance of the Home Government and of other parts of the world may have to be called for, that assistance will be given us for our own defence; but if we isolate ourselves we cannot hope for any such assistance should it ever be required. I do not think any country or colony ever benefits by isolation. I believe that any country-even individuals-always improve their own condition and benefit themselves by conferring and meeting freely with people from distant parts. Isolation has the effect of crystallizing us into a condition that we are apt to think that we have attained perfection; and it is only by contact with other people, and by the exchange of ideas, that we are able to recognise our weaknesses, and achieve benefit for our selves by the effort to remedy them; and, similarly, I have no doubt that we may be able to point out weaknesses in those from other parts of the world. A movement of this kind cannot have any other effect than great benefit to those who attend these celebrations. With regard to sending Home the military contingent, I think it is not so much to show that we have soldiers here as to show that, if need be, we can raise a military contingent. It may be urged that the few men we could send Home would be so small that they would be absolutely unnoticed in the crowd that will assemble there; but we must consider that it is not the crowd that | would call for special comment, but the interest that would be created, and the comment that would be raised as to who these people are, and where they come from, what is the object of their visit, and various questions of that kind. I fully agree with the proposal that the Premier shall go Home, and that a contingent of military shall accompany him to do honour to our country. With regard to that contingent, it may be asked, Why send a Maori contingent? We have no Maori military here, and why send Maoris in uniform to show in effect that we have Native soldiers in New Zealand? Sir, I do not think that is the intention, but, as I have said before, the Natives from New Zealand will show to the people of the Old World a class of aboriginals that cannot be equalled in any other part of the world, and, although we have not a Native contingent of fighting men, we have had proof of the fighting qualities of the Maori in this country. Those who remember the early sixties, and perhaps before that, know that a very few Natives were quite sufficient to hold in check, even to defeat in many instances, the British troops; so that if that could be done in the early days with very indifferent weaponsmarbles instead of bullets--you may depend upon it that if need be a Native contingent could be raised and trained that perhaps would be second to no other fighting race on the face of the earth. For that reason I think the Native contingent should be sent Home, and I am quite sure the selection that will be made will do this country credit, and will show to the world at least that we in New Zealand have a class of aboriginals quite equal to their European brethren, all other things being equal. We are told that the expense of doing this is out of all proportion. Now, New Zealand surely has not sunk so low, even in spite of her financial troubles, that she cannot expend £3,000 on an object of this kind. I have not worked that out myself, but I have been told that it means something like three half-pence for each individual in the colony; and if we cannot spend three halfpence per head to be suitably represented in the Old Country, then I think we place ourselves at a very low ebb indeed. It will be £3,000 well spent, and, no doubt, will be better than many other investments, because it will bring a return equal to and probably more than equal to the expenditure, and will be one of the best investments that the colony has made. If I even take it on the lowest standard, the standard of advertising the colony, of allowing the productions of the colony to become known, that will give us in a very short time a return far exceeding the £3,000. I may say this also: that this is a country the productiveness of which is second to none, our climate is second to none, and, with our long coast-line, we have all the conditions of climate that can produce nearly everything the human race requires. With a colony of this kind, and with enterprising settlers, we need not be afraid to face the world; and any arrangements for exchanging the products of this for those of any other part of the world must be and will be to the advantage of the colony. Sir, I shall not |