the Cleverne and
Kony.
Trake
F
the
I have the hown to be,
Fir
Your Most Obedient
Fusible Servant,
----"ཆན་ག
Houghong.
"Daily Press" 30th May, 1879
RENENUE AND THE TRADE OF THE COLONY.
His EXCELLENCY-Now, gentlemen, it may be proper I should close the sitting of to day by stating the result of our audit of the accounts for 1878. I addressed you on this subject in October and November last. I am now happy to tell you that the accounts of the year 1878, as audited by Mr. Marah, show that our total revenne amounted to $947,637.7%. The total expenditure amounted to $910,523.32, leaving a surplus upon the year's transactions of $37,114.40. With respect to the snos expended, I think any one who looks around the colony will bear me out when I say that we have never had the Surveyor-General doing more useful work, expending money usefully, than he has daring those two years. We see it in every part of the Colony. Of the $157,000 which you voted my hon. friend the Surveyor-General, he has expended $142,000. I may tell you the expenditure of 1878 ex. ceeded the expenditure of 1877 by $97,315. The actual excess of revenue over expendi- ture was just about the same figure, $37,114. but the $17,114 was a clear gain upon the trans- actions of the year. When I muntion-bligh during the year-we-laid but $37,000 more tha Hefore, that was so much out of the surples.
mora
I must not now recapitulate what I said in September, but I find that all items which really indicate a prosperous state of things in the Colony-upon these items there is au increase in the revenue. A question arises about the Post Office. I find the in- crease in postage in 1878 as compared with 1872 amounted to $20,649, that is, in the year 1877 our revenue was $62,675; in the year 1878 it was $82,325, Actually the revenue from postage is not a subject which we may consider as a matter of very great importance, because we endeavour to expend our postal revenue as far as We enn in our postal arrangements, but an increase indicates an increase in the com. mercial transactions conducted by correspon- dence. The light dues in 1877 amouuted to $14,984, whereas the light dues collected last year amounted to $17,494. I had estimated only for $15,000, the surplus being $2,500. Well. now, what does that mean F The light dues are made up of a cent a ton upon all shipping but the native junks. You will easily see what the in- crease must have been in the tonnage. It means 250,000 tons increase in the trade of the Colony. These, of course, are facts which must be gratify- ing to us, because depression of trade we know exists elsewhere. Itexists very largely in our own country, and it is satisfactory to know that this depôt of trade, the most important perhaps in the Queen's Colonial Empire, as far as its com mercial results are shown by the shipping and in the revenue is really in a healthy state and ourishing endition. And I think Her Majesty's Government may perhaps view with satisfaction the fact that out hore, in this great depot of commerce, we may be able to assist in alle- viating the depression of trade at home by opening up the great mpire with which we do trade to manufactured goods, and I hope to do that as long as I have the Government by assisting in every way the commercial transactions of the Colony, promoting those transactions, and and not only with foreign shipping, to which I bayo referred, but also the native junk trade of the Colony. The fact is that in spread- ing in China the manufactures of England and obtaining for the English consumer Chinese goods at a cheap rate, We must not omit from our calenlations the native jank trade of Hongkong. Whatever harasses that junk trade, whatever tends in aly shape or form to prevent its development we should carefully scrutinise. I pointed out to
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you we levied certain taxes, bringing in about $20,000 *
yeur, on native junks; I bare pouted out for your cons deration how far we might relieve the junk trade of that bir- den. But there is something else that presses on the junk trade of this colony. I have! beeu now two years at the head of the ment hore. I have had the honour of often of presiding in this room at meetings of the Legislative Council, but I have never been asked a question with respect to th at which intimately concerus the prosperity of the Colony. How does it come to pass that two years have elapsed and nothing has been said with respect to restric- tions now placed on the native trade of Hongkong? I don't think it is the business of the head of the Governmentin dealing with matters of this kind to force bis opinions upon a couumeroial commanity, but it is his duty to ascertain from those who are concerned how they regard the harassing of their trade, and what remedy they can sug. igest. I have consulted with those who are directly concerned in the native trale of this colony, I have had opportunities now for a long time, more than aightoun months, of considering the burdens they suffer under and the suggestions they have made to me, and certain plans I have thought of with respect to this grievance, and having done so I will only now say to the Council that though I came to this Colony, as far as the subject to which I now refer is concerneti, I may say with my hands tied by the acts of my predecessor, and I must say also frankly, es far as I can judge from the records in the Colonial Secretary's office, by the act of thres advisers whom he took into his confidence. Neverthe- less, I am prepared upon this important subject, as upon others where I see a case fairly esta- | blished, and where I think it is within my power to carry out a reform, to do so. It will be perhaps a couple of mouths before I may have the satis- faction of meeting you again, for I am now about to proceed on a few weeks leave of absence which Sir Michael Hicks-Beach has been good enough to give me, yet I can assure you that the question to which I am now referring, namely, developing the commercial resources of this Colony with reference to native trade, and doing that with the object of increasing the prosperity of the Colony, as well as alleviating the distress at home-these are questions which, whether I am in Government House or taking a few weeks vacation leave, will not escape my 'attention.
Hon. W. Keswick-Your Excellency's re marks are doubtless applicable to the system of Chinese collection of dues on native junks, and I have no doubt your Excellency's remarks, in connection with the way in which your hands were tied, had reference to the rules which were vade public through the Chamber of Comutarce, You have mentioned that thrue advisers ac. quiesced according to the records of the Colonial Secretary's office. I am not aware whether I am one of those to whom you have alluded. T believe, however, that I am, and I feel my self bound to say that I took no part in acquiescing those rules as a final act for right towards this Colony. I never appro- vod of them, I do not approve of them, and I see other means by which redress can be ob tained. I would further remark, with reference i to your statement about no attention having! been given to the matter by the merchants, that it is a subject they have never ceased to j fool au interest in, and through the Chamber of Commerce the expression of their feelings has! frequently been made. Your Excellency has also received from the Chamber e municntious on the subject. I think though we have bad little but roference to the past, from your Ex- cellonoy's remarks we may look hopefully to the future.
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