, 1874-07-01
COLONIAL FINANCIERlNG.

The Trinidad Chronicle, when reviewing the f.
n ancial returns of that island fol the year 1873, makes
the following pleasing comment .on the Revenue de-
partment:-
1" TIE usual financial returns of the past year were
laid before Council at its last sitting on the 18th May
The revenue exceeded the estimated amount by
E26OOO, $1,000 of which came from Customs, not
withstanding the reductions on flour, &c. made in
January by Gov. Longden. 10000 OF the surplus
over estimate came from Excise (or Rum duty a less
favourable symptom of social life and G7 1000 from
Land s%ales-which shows how active is that depart
ment of revenue. 1872 following another good year,
was the colony's most prosperous financial twelve
month. and the revenue of '73 could not be expected
to equal it especially after such a climatic season as
that Of TO. 1t was therefore estimated to yield but
El5.5OO more than 1870, yet it has yielded 5000
more than the much better year 1871, and has been
exceeded onlt by the topmast year OF all. All this is
independent of the old coins exchanged in the Treasu-
nv. which are merely matter of account involving a
certain amount of loss by the less value realised by
them in England. The trade tax brought in &400
less than was expected from it. Licenses brought
nearly El, 500 more, a bad sign, with the great sum
brought in by the Rum duty (over 100000 J, oil the
habits of our lower orders, and obliging one to antici-
pate increased expenditure for police and ;os. AS
a check to this dangerous proclivity, we shall hail
with satisfaction a nearer a pproxlmation to the Deme-
rara scale of charges for licenses and duty on colonial
spirits, a change which should be accompanied by a
reduction in the duty on necessaries, say on some of
the most Indispensable Items OF f0OQ ana clOLHlnp Tor
the population at large. Several thousands additional
income could be raised from a revised rate of rum duty
and licenses, and import duty on cigars and manu-
featured tobacco lat present ~absurdly low, in COM
parison with the ad-valorem value Of the specific rate
on the unmanufa ctured leaf. an amount which would
allow all oxen to come in free (they pay only G400,
on an average of years.; asses Ohe poor mans draft
animal, its use increasing the supply and lessening
the cost of market provision) which produce only $50
a year, that would let all raw tropical produce (now
Welding a very small amount to the Custons) come in
free of duty, and even admit butter and olive oil (Gear
articles at all tmes), fish and sailed meat at the low
est dd vaLorem rate. We believe this relief can be
effected to the great comfort of the whole body OF
the public and the increase of general trade, without
injury to any interest, and without costing the reve-
nue. a penny, simply by levying moderately increased
taxes on the consumption of useless and injurious in
dulpences. Unless to relieve trade and consumption,
we do not ask he imposition Of additional burthens.
The Expenditure, on the other hand, has in turn ex-
seeded the estimates by the large sum of E52,O00,
,'but nearly the whole amount says the paper,
twas expended in public works which even thus
did not keep pace either with the wishes of the COM
munity or the desires of the Department.
Notwithstanding the great expenditure on public
works during the past year, the balance in the colo
ny's favor, according to the Auditor-G Generals
Financial Statement of its position on the 3lst Deem
Der last, was reduced only by E8330 during the year.
The colony has eaten a good lump of its cake, but it
crows again while Jack Horner sleeps, and is very