The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-08-24

ADChLANDJ W. LsJJ aug ~. h'
most important political event of the
month has been the delivery of the
financial statement by the Hon. J. G.
Ward, Colonial Treasurer, in the
House of Representatives, on July 80
Since that time the proposals made by
the government have evoked much
public discussion, and the debate in
the House of Representatives will
probably be somewhat protracted. II
is already quite certain that Ward has
made series of mistakes in his GUS
toms proposals, that he will have to
abandon the principal portions of the
proposed reciprocal treaties with South
Australia and Canada, and will have
to largely modify the proposed Gus
toms charges.
The revenue for the year ended the
31st March, 1891, amounted to GA, $751;
O3S; the revenue for the year ended
31st March, 1895, am ounted to G4,2S1,
995, showing a falling off of G371, 043.
When Ward made his statement last
in 1894 a considerable portion of the
financial year had elapsed, and he
could see that the revenue of the prev
ious year would not be realized. His
estimate therefore was "a, 235, 900, ex-
elusive of ELI, 800 to be received to
provide for the accretions of sinking
funds payable during the year. The
actual receipts were ga ,2S1 1896, or G46,-
995 more than the estimate. The bal
ance stood thus-Customs showed a
falling off of ESQ, 215; beer duty, EOS
a. flxuo m a
lowing departments there were in
creases-Stamps, $50, 225.
The proposal of the Colonial Treas
urer with regard to the Vancouver
mail service is, that New Zealand
shall subsidIze the line to the extent
of e20, 600 per annum. There is likely
to be considerable opposition to this,
on the ground that in the present state
of our finances, we cannot spare so
large an amount, in addition 10 what
the San Francisco service costs us.
CANADIAN-PACIFIC MAIL SERVICE.
To enable trade between Canada
and New Zealand to be successfully
carried on il is advisable that regular
steam communication between the
two countries should be established.
With this view an agreement between
the Canadian Pacific Steamship Com
pany and the government will be sub
mitted to the House for.its approval.
The line of steamers at present run
ming between Canada and Australia
has been subsidized for a period of
about eight years by the Canadian
government; also for a shorter period !
by the New South Wales government. !
1t is proposed that a line of steamers !
shall run either to Auckland or Well |
ington; and, in return for monthly |
service, to be conducted with a view |
to necessary expedition and accom- !
mediation, touching at Fiji and Homo !
lulu, to give to the company a suhsi- !
dy of 100000 per annum for a period |
of years to be fixed. 1 believe that the !
advantage, direct and indirect, which |
will be gained by the colony il this !
proposal is given effect TO, will more
than warrant this outlay. The whole
sum, e20, 900, cannot i'll any case be a
direct loss to- the colony, as the line of /
steamers so subsidized will car
ry mail matter upon which,
under ordinary circumstances, we
would have 10 pay upon. The
OF such u service in devel-
oping our tourist traffic cannot be I
over estimated. With the establish
ment of this service, it is not intended
to abandon or weaken our support to
the San Francisco line, which gives
as an important connection with
America. Our policy is to have
connection from New
Zealand by the two lines TO
America and Canada respect
vely. In order to prevent the
upon the duties between
he two countries and the proposed
subsidy to the line of steamers be
ween Canada and New Zealand being
provided for out of our present reve-
lue, / propose to make up from |
10000 to 100000 per annum by a re-
adjustment of the death duties. So
ar as / can learn, New Zealand is the
My colony where property devolving
Ipon widow or widower is exempt
rom succession duty, and ! believe
here Is no such exemption in Eng
and at the present day. AS the law
ERE now stands, all property de-
diving upon a widow or widower is
bsolutely exempt, and where either
axe life estate in property
rielding a yearly income OF less
han $500, the duty is postponed until I
be death of the life tenant. Il COM
2risQn with other countries this ap-
ears to me to be much too liberal. /
ropose U) to exempt all estates under
300; (2) subject to such exemption to
bolish the exemption on all property
evolving upon wife or husband alb
olutely (3) aud IN order to determine
he rate of duty that all property dis
osed of by will, settlement, gift or
lmily arrangement, be aggregated as
q England. An amendment of the
Deceased Persons Estates Act, 1851,
7ilI be introduced so as TO give effect
D the above proposals. Independent
( the fact that il is desirable to pro-
ide for loss of revenue by the admlS-
ion OF certain articles from Canada {
rec, see no reason why, where valu-
BILE Iegacies have been left, they
hould escape taxation which they do
OF escape in other countries.
PACIFIC CABLE.
The important question of establish
lg the Pacific cable 10y an all British
quite to Canada and England has en-