5 -
as the vacant houses are cccupied an impotus is
given to building operations and land purchase
for which considerable funds scom to bc available.
This increase in population accounts largely for the increase of nearly $1,000,000 under Licences
and Internal Revenue not otherwise classified.
There is however one item which does not
show the increase which we might have expected, viz. Liquor Duties. Now regulations for the con- trol of Chinese Distilleries were introduced during the year and have had some effect in improving the returns from liquor duties but the Governmont
cannot but fool that tho Treasury still fails to
receive the full amount to which it is entitled
under the law from the oxcise on Winos and Spirits
and it may become necessary to tighten the regula- tions still more in order to prevent illicit evasion
of the duty. The honost distillor and dealer would not suffor if the way of the transgressor were mado a littlo less easy.
Expenditure for this year we have now cstimated at $21,672,500, an under expenditure on
our original estimate of $510,545, and if our
estimatos prove correct we shall finish the year
with a surplus of revenue over exponditure of
$1,001,910, instead of a deficit of $2,079,655.
This surplus added to our balance of assets at
the beginning of tho yo ar should give us a Balance
of Asscts over Liabilitics on December 31st next
of $4,987,671 without the repayment of the money
duo from the Loan Account or, with that sum added
$6,951,029 of which just over $5,000,000 may bc
rogarded as liquid.
From
19