CO129-142 - Public Offices & Others - 1869 — Page 21

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Appendix

"Financial Statement" for 1869 abou forced to of Governor his RC Maldonner ng long legislative Council. 30cf 1868

1984

I

direction where she bas once been steered. I can sooner than meddle officially with what they vouch for it that the production of our present call sin in the one case, or vice in the other, financial safety and purity required much and the they would leave both to mature and THE ESTIMATES.

rigid economy and the strictest supervision, fructify-the pestilence to spread, and this city Etoros rext brought for a 11 Fue exercised prea with severity, over all the de- to be infested by illegal Gaming hunts, fre- estites tur 1869, an ordinance which he said partments, for the purpose of getting the colong qunted by the criminal classes, with the nɛnal was a try short one, but also very important as clear of the reef of bankruptcy to which I results to society of such assen.blages. More- by it the Council were asked to appropriate found her drifting, and which she may be said over, they seem to apply their theories to all the sum of $829,032.60 for the expenses of to have touched. It is nevertheless evidentibot parts of the world and to all populations alike. the ensuing year. To prevent mistakes in the large balance now in hand is mainly attri. They would govern the axon race of Kent matter involving reference to so many figures butable to no economy possible for any Go- and the Chinese on the same principles, and he had prepared the following financial vernor, but is principally the result of two new would think it wrong to meet the exigencies statement, which members might consult | sources of Revenue, viz, the Stamp Ordin of each separate community with Legisla before the next meeting of Council.

ance and Fees from the Licensed Gambling- tion adopted to its local requirements. His EXCELLENCY then read the following houses, which this Government established last need scarcely say that no such policy memorandam, viz :--

year, in default of any better means of control- has been countenanced by this Government. Last August, when explaining the Estimates ing certain dangerous classes of the commu- On the contrary, I and my Executive Council for 1868, which I then laid before you, I was nity. All these causes have so changed the have from the first felt it a positive duty to obliged to draw your attention to the many tem- financial position of the Government from admit the existence of the two evils alluded to. porary and uncertain elements then involved in that in which I found it on my arrival, that and frankly acknowledge that we could not the calculations affecting the Revenue side of although the Liabilities of those days have suppress them. We felt consequently more expe- the account. In that respect I have the satis, been discharged, and although in 1869, it is cially bound to exert ourselves to obtain a faction of thinking that the Revenue estimated | contemplated to raise by Rates for Police, practical control over evils which we had not for 1869 is one unlikely to be deranged by similar Water, and Lighting. $31,000 less than the the power to eradicate, and thereby at least disturbing influences, and that as ought always sum estimated for the current year, I am now alleviate the mischiefs inseparable from each. to be the care in framing Estimates, there is a enabled to lay before you an estimated Expen- I am therefore gratified to report that not greater probability of an excess than a deficiency diture exceeding One Million of Dollars, with merely has the new system been successful in in the amount of Revenue estimated. At page every prospect that, nevertheless, there will closing the old dens of iniquity, and substi 3 of the Detailed Estimates which I now lay remain a surplus of $230,000 on the 31st De- tuting for them houses regulated by strict Go- before you the Excess of the Colony's Assets cember, 1869, reduced by unavailable coinage verament surveillance, but also that there is over its Liabilities on the first Day of the to $170,000, and able practically to some strong reason to infer, contrary to the pro- present Year is put down as $25,851, and hay- further diminution. if the Supplementary phecies not unnaturally indulged in at first. ing gone into the calculations, I think there is Estimates should obtain a greater development that the system has re-acted beneficially on little apparent room for error in that item. I than has been allowed for in the calculations the parties more immediately reached by may also remark that the surplus intended now submitted. That is a contingency always it. Thus, contrary to general expectation. as such would have remained on the first of possible, as, for example, it is not improbable and far exceeding any hope of my own, you last January after payment of all known Lia that owing to original defective construction will find from the Return which I now lay be- bilities, including arrears due for the Military and the sinking of the earth in its neighbour- fore you, that the crime which seemed most Contribution. The latter, however, can no longer hood, the necessity may arise for rebuilding likely to have increased is that which has most be counted as part of Colony's Liabilities because the Harbour Master's Office, which is already diminished. namely. Larceny amongst all sums due on that account, even to the 30th in a dangerous state. I last year stated thatyouts. During the first quarter following the September of this year, have been already dis- the possibility of such contingencies occurring opening of the Licensed Houses the number of charged. On the other hand, amongst your Assets are necessarily included sums, which are prac- proves that this Colony, like any other large those cases brought before the Police Magis- Pirm or business, should always retain an easily trates averaged the same as in the preceding tically unavailable, such as a large portion of available surplus, over and above Assets in the three years, viz., about 80, whereas during the the subsidiary coins, which cannot be refused at form of Rent and Taxes due. Such surplus first quarter of this year they had diminished the Treasury and which, therefore, keep steadily should not be less than from $100,000 to $130,000, 50 per cent, and during the second quarter 75 increasing, as the accompanying Return ex- and I must again press on you that although per cent. Recently all Foreigners have been ex- plains. From that Return you will perceive that the Estimates you before you, show a surplus cluded from the Licensed Houses, because the on the first day of this month, the Colony pos- probably exceeding the above sum at the end argument that licensing a few houses had been sessed no less than $43,482 in Copper and Bronze of 1869, even allowing liberally for the de- found essential to obtain control for Police ! coinage, the greater part of which may be re- mands of the Supplementary Estimates, I can purposes over a vice amongst the Chinese-- garded as being at present entirely useless regard such result as merely amounting to a which after the most vigorous efforts the exe- an amount which increases almost return to a sound financial status, such as cutive could not suppress-is not applicable every week. Occasionally. it is decreased should never be departed from. especially as to Foreigners, and therefore affords no justifica- by arrangements with Contractors for Public amongst the items forming the Revenue for tion for permitting them to use the Licensed Works to take a portion of their money in 1869, is one which cannot recur, namely, $60,000 Houses, because it is not Foreigners who Copper, or by a rise in the value of the latter for the Plant and Machinery of the Mint. constitute the criminal classes of the Colony. coinage which was lately at par, but it is sure Hence, although the finances of the Colo- There is no risk therefore of Gambling ten- to find its way back to the Treasury whenever it ny are at last in a satisfactory state, it cannot dencies leading to the establishment of illegal falls below par in the markets of Canton or Hong- now be said that they will not require constant baunts where Burglaries and Robberies may kong. It is necessary also to bear in mind that the care and vigilance to preserve them in that he planned by those who meet in such places in Bronze, or mil coinage, amounts to $17,000, of condition. Before concluding the subject of defiance of the Law. I must add that, although which there is apparently no prospect of getting Revenue I call attention to the fact that the it is true the Houses were originally licensed rid on any terms. This result is the more unfortu- fees from the Licensed Gaming Houses are without any intention of encouraging Foreigners nate, because those Coins have cost a considerable now withdrawn from the heading of to go there. I am, nevertheless, now surprised extra outlay, from having been coined in England available deposits. I lay before you the des- that it did not sooner occur to me to rid the instead of at the Mint of the Colony, whilst patch of the Secretary of State authorising licensing system of this its least defensible the heavy expense attending their manufacture application of that Revenue to certain Colo- feature, and it appears strange that no one else, abroad, and freight, etc., etc., from a distantial purposes-and till some means of so far as I am aware, made the suggestion country has been proportionably augmented. obtaining equal control

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the classes earlier. When I had once become convinced of The available Assets of the Colony must addicted to illegal Gaming with all its evil con- the propriety and saw the possibility of ex- therefore be diminished by those sums, whilst it sequences to the community can be devised, it cluding Foreigners, I was quite prepared to must also be remembered that out of what might certainly seems wise to use it for the improve- make the most liberal abatement to the Li- remain, if a creditor and debtor account were ment of a force which in i. great measure censees of the fees which they were then pay- to be now balanced, a considerable portion is required to repress irregularities and ing, viz: $13,000 per month. I would willingly would consist of arrears of Rents and Taxes, crime, originating in or fostered by Gambling, have reduced them to $10,000 or $8,000, or to which require time to collect, and part of It is at least wiser to devote it to that or other any other amount which might be proved which it is certain could not be recovered, useful public objects than to throw it into the necessary to compensate them for the loss en- Thus, although in my financial statement of sea, or get rid of it in some more objectionable tailed by the exclusion of Foreigners. Just August last year, the Colony's Assets, on the manner, on the plea that no Revenue should then, however, the close of the first year of the 1st January, 1867, were stated to amount to about accrue from such a source. My creed on such operations of the Licensees was approaching, $24,000, yet small as that sum was, it would have matters is a very simple one.

and some disputes unexpectedly arose between been a delusion to expect to realise it in any Government is bound to do as much good and them and their agents when settling accounts. I have there which led to the discovery that, so far from shape. At present the Colony, independent of any suppress as much evil as it can. subsidiary coinage, an item which exceeds fore not hesitated to advance straightforward losing, as they had endeavoured to prove they $60,000, holds here in Cash $190,135, and has towards that object. I have never been deterred had, through the many reductions which heil also a respectable Balance of about $10,000 in by the secondary consideration that a Revenue į made in their fees, they had been gainers during the hands of the Crown Agents to meet its fre- was unavoidably created thereby.-whether I the past year to an extent beyond the legiti quent Liabilities in England, a result which in liked or disliked that result,-nor have I been mate amount which the exigencies of the system a financial point of view is highly satisfactory. persuaded by the reasoning, if I may use such justified. At the same time, offers were made Perhaps some, who remember the difficul- à term, of some estimable persons, who appear to Government to take up the business by men ties of the local Treasury in 1886, may bence comparatively indifferent to the existence of of equal capital, and one offer based on urost infer that it is easy by a touch of the helm to a Public evil, provided their own theory, that excellent security, and with the understanding turn the vessel of the state like other vessels we should leave sin and vice alone, prevails, that Foreigners were to be excluded, amounted Nevertheless the ex- from the breakers, on which a slight mistake Such persons if they pursue their argument to $240,000 per annum. might so easily place her, yet the effort may to its legitimate conclusion, must be pre-perience acquired by the old Licensees, their be more arduous than appears, there are so pared to see our Navy and Army decimated readiness to expend money in detecting re- many currents which tend to drive her in the by a disease which Legislation can mitigate, turned convicts, and the effective assistance