B.—No. 2.

And, with equal populations, New Zealand form would not be as expensive aa that of Victoria.

has been one of an exceedingly diffuse nature, including nine distinct centres of Government, the results in this Colony, as compared with those in Victoria, are very much in favour of economy on the part of New Zealand. I fear I may have somewhat tired the Committee with these statistical remarks. I know that the mere repetition of a number of figures is likely to leave but little impression on the mind ; but I hope that, when the figures in detail are studied in the printed Statement, they will be suggestive to honorable Members of many and valuable conclusions, and that the labour which has been expended on their preparation will not be wholly thrown away. EXPENDITHEE EOE THE TEAE 1872-73. To enable a comparison to be made between the Estimates of this year and the appropriations of last year, two points of difference require to be explained. In obedience to the opinion expressed in the House last Session, all salaries which are not absolutely by law made Permanent Charges are in the present Estimates submitted for a vote of the Legislature. A considerable amount, in consequence, which has hitherto been included in the " Civil List " and " Permanent Charges," now appears on the ordinary Estimates. Another alteration from previous practice is this : —Now that the buildings required for Government purposes throughout the country have become a Colonial charge, consequent upon the abolition of the system of Provincial Charges, it is thought that it will be much more convenient to group all the buildings together under one head, instead of scattering their cost through the Estimates, as it was convenient to do when it was required to make them Provincial Charges. Accordingly, public buildings for various purposes will be found under the head of Class I. of the Estimates —" Public Domains and Buildings." Besides that this plan will enable a more convenient supervision over the buildings to be maintained, I think it will enable the purely departmental expenditure to be more readily distinguished from other expenditure. The following are the Estimates for the year 1872-73, under the various heads, contrasted with the appropriations under the same heads of the year 1871-72 :—

Amount to be appropriated is increased by transference of salaries from Civil List and from Permanent Charges.

Also, all Buildings now made Colonial Charge.

Estimates, 1872, compared with Appropriations, 1871-72,

Show net increase, £21,309 17s. Id.

Net Increase ... £21,309 17 1 It will be seen that the gross total shows an excess of £21,309 17s. Id. in the present Estimates over the appropriations of the previous year. I proceed to explain how this increase has arisen, and I hope to make clear that, notwithstanding the gross increase, there has been, wherever practicable, a satisfactory decrease made in the proposed expenditure. Under the first head, " Permanent Charges," there is an increase of £19,782 ss. 7cl. ; in fact, nearly the whole of the gross increase is covered by the increase under this head. It principally arises in this way : Under the head of " Permanent Charges," there is £4,961 14s. 4d., being the amount of the interest on the £90,000 Treasury Bills issued last year; there is also an addition of £11,200 to the amount estimated last year in the item " Interest for Defence and Other Purposes Loan." Honorable Members will of course understand that this represents interest on the further amount raised. I shall deal separately

But proposed expenditure decreased wherever practicable. £19,782 ss. 7d. of increase under " Permanent Charges."

16

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

1871-72. 1872-73. Saving. Excess. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Civil List Permanent Charges Ditto, Provincial 27,500 0 0 320,955 3 6 182,062 0 0 27,500 0 0 334,817 9 1 187,982 0 0 13,862 5 7 5,920 0 0 Appropriations : — Class I.—Public Domains and Buildings „ II.—Public Departments ,, III.—Law and Justice „ IV.—Postal Ditto, Provincial „ V. —Customs „ VI.—Native „ VII.—Miscellaneous ... *... Ditto, Provincial „ VIII.—Militia and Volunteers ... 2,250 0 0 64,643 2 8 40,991 6 0 117,281 0 0 24,200 0 0 48,136 7 6 24,233 5 0 31,701 16 10 65 0 0 28,501 13 6 8,290 0 0 68,691 15 9 41,269 16 0 | 136,397 0 0 5,084 0 0 6,040 0 0 4,048 13 1 278 10 0 49,991 5 10 23,862 5 0 27,134 12 11 371 0 0 4,567 3 11 65 0 0 607 6 0 1,854 18 4 27,894 7 6 Totals 912,520 15 0 933,830 12 1 10,694 9 11 32,004 7 0