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20 per centum deduction for Military Contribution. I would
submit to Your Lordship that this special fund raised for
a very special purpose, by a temporary levy cannot properly
be considered a part of the permanent Revenues of the
Colony. There has been a certain amount of agitation in
the local Press, and in the community on the subject of
the Military Contribution and I venture to submit to Your
Lordship that the equity of this concession on the part
of the Imperial Government would produce a good effect.
8.
The balance to credit of the
oves
Colony at the end of last year was estimated at $1,400,000
and in view of the large sums which have in recent years
been spent out of the ordinary revenue of the Colony on
Public Works Extraordinary, I trust that Your Lordship
will approve the proposal whereby half the cost of this
necessary and urgent work may be met without resorting to
increased taxation, and more especially in view of the fact
that in all probability it will be necessary to increase
taxation next year in order to meet the increasing charges
for interest on Railway advances. I shall address Your
Lordship further on this matter in connection with the
Estimates for 1909. The principle that the shipping should
be taxed to provide for Harbour improvements has been
affirmed