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BILL ENTITLED k AN ORDINANCE TO APPLY A SUM NOT EXCEEDING ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DOLLARS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE YEAR 1891."-The Acting Colonial Secretary moved the First Reading of the Bill and laid on the table the Estimates for 1891.
The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
The Acting Colonial Secretary laid on the table the following Minute by His Excellency with reference to the Estimates for 1891:-
The Officer Administering the Government has the honour to submit for the consider- ation of the Legislative Council the Estimated Revenue and Expenditure of the Colony for
year 1891.
the
2. The Estimates have been carefully prepared by the Acting Colonial Secretary. The work connected with them has been rendered more onerous than usual this year by reason of the re-adjustments of salaries in accordance with the Secretary of State's instructions. Every endeavour has been made to carry out the principles enunciated in the Despatch on the subject which has already been laid before this Council. In a matter of this kind, where certain exceptions have been made to the increases proposed, it is impossible that every one concerned should be perfectly satisfied. If, however, in some cases the intentions of the Secretary of State have not been carried out, or if there are others which would seem to deserve more indulgence than has been granted to them it will doubtless be competent to effect rectifications hereafter.
3. The Estimated Revenue for 1891 exclusive of any balance on hand at the end of this year,
and exclusive of premiums on Land Sales, is $1,952,098.
The Estimated Revenue for this year was $1,884,943. The amount estimated for 1891. therefore exceeds this by $67,155. But it should be borne in mind that the estimated amount to be realized from Land Sales next year has been put down as only $100,000 whereas that for this year was mentioned as $300,000. The commercial depression which has existed for some time past has necessarily affected the sale of Government property, and it would have been undesirable to have sold at a time when, as a matter of certainty, but poor prices would have been obtained. The amount realized by the sale of lands this year instead of exceeding $300,000 will, in all probability, not amount to $50,000. It is to be hoped, however, that an improved condition of affairs will enable the Estimate under this head to be reached during 1891.
4. The Officer Administering the Government informed the Council a short time since that the probable balance on hand at the end of this year would be $461,629, but since this announcement was made the Colony has been called upon to pay a larger amount than was anticipated as representing the sum of £116,000 voted for Defence Works. About $20,000 will therefore have to be deducted from the $461,629. But on the other hand the impro- bability of all the amount estimated for Extraordinary Expenditure being spent will more than likely make up for this deficiency.
5 The Council is aware that one of our principal items of Revenue arises from the Opium Monopoly which according to present arrangements is to produce $477,600 a year. But an item of this nature being actually realized must necessarily depend upon certain contingencies and it is therefore our duty not to rely too implicitly upon such a source of income.
6. The estimated increases and decreases on the different items of revenue for next year are principally the following.
There is an estimated increase in assessed taxes of $50,000 due to the increase in rateable tenements and to the gross receipt being estimated for 1891 without deduction for unoccupied houses, but this deduction has to be made good from expenditure.
There is also an estimated increase of $1,000 on carriage and chair licences an amount of over $10,000 having been received on this account during the first half of this year.
There is an increase of $3,000 estimated for spirit licences. The sum estimated under this heading last year was $41,000 whereas that obtained was $48,794.
There is also an estimated increase of $4,000 of fees from scholars at the Victoria College -the amount estimated last year under this head having been $10,000.
An increase from $65,000 to $75,000 is also contemplated for rents derived from market stalls and shops.