'
:
105
calculated at the rates settled in Executive Council,
would (a) if all Divans are closed, be $20,656 (b) if the
52 Divans on the list selected by Government are closed,
be $4,533 and (c) if the 52 Divans on the list selected
by the Opium Farmer are closed, be $4,706.
17.
It therefore eventuates that from
the date on which all Divans are closed the Colony must pay
an immediate capital sum of $20,656 and sustain a further
loss of $45,000 per mensem, viz.:- a total loss in a
complete financial year of $560,656. If only 52 Divans
are closed the immediate minimum payment would be a sum of
$4,533 and a monthly sum of at least $7,000. If 52 Divans
were closed on lst. instant and the remainder on February
28th., 1909, when the licences expire the sum to be pro-
-vided in the present financial year would be (at least)
$25,533, and in next year $480,123. I have already ex-
-plained that in the present state of the Colonial
2
Finances it appears practically impossible to meet these
charges, unless His Majesty's Government should see fit to
make a grant for that purpose. Even in that case and were
no financial liability to be incurred by this Colony I am
compelled for the reasons I have given to the conclusion
that the complete closure of all Divans would be an unwise
step.