92 Timehri. 
done a far bigger trade in the years gone by than to-day. By leave of laudatores 
temporis acti, that can hardly be the case, if we have regard even only to the 
growth of population. Take into account, too, the many items that have 
been added to the export list, not the least valuable being balata, gold and rice, 
What then is the explanation of an import trade of nearly ten million dollars 
in 1879 and one of considerably under eight million dollars in 1912? It is 
simply that the purchasing power of money has appreciated, another way of 
saying that the price of commodities has cheapened. But while this is so, the 
standard of living has gone up. And with regard to the figures, it can hardly 
be libellous or untrue to suggest that the Customs that was not so careful 
in its statistical preparations as the Customs that is. 
The new Governor, as I have said, is happy in the opportunity of his coming 
in so far as the state of the Exchequer is concerned. It is not a question, how- 
ever, of “ What will he do with it?” For it does not lie with him alone to 
administer the funds. His powers are severely limited by the political constity- 
tion of the colony The Combined Cowrt as part ot the Government is all- 
powerful in the matter of the disposition of the fimances ; and while in the 
lust of its retrenchment it can demolish a temple it is not allowed to build 
even a hovel. That is to say it can reduce but it cannot initiate expenditure. 
It has no less power over the finances than Parliament over the finances of 
the British Government. Money can only be expended in the manner and 
for the purposes authorised by this Court. It grants supplies only for a 
year ; and, as in the case of the House of Commons, “redress of grievance ” 
precedes supply. The estimates of expenditure it not only discusses “ freely 
and without reserve,” but it can reduce or strike out any item. The Court is 
composed of eight official members and fourteen unofficial members, the 
latter representing the electorate in the several districts and divisions of the 
colony. Whenever ‘the representatives of the people” vote solidly together 
against the official section, however much the Executive Government may 
have set their heart upon any measure, the will of the predominant partner, 
as representing Demos must be supreme. This is a tremendous power. 
Used soberly and ina statesmanlike way, it can do an infinite deal of good. 
Misused, it can easily set the hands of the clock of progress back. On 
the whole there has been a temperate, sensible use of this power. This is 
partly due to the fact that there has been no machine at work, no Cabal or 
semblance of clique on the part of the electives. And it is only fair to say 
that the Executive Government are not in the habit of offering provocation 
for defiant and concerted action on the part of those upon whom falls the 
larger portion of the responsibility for the financial management of the 
colony’s affairs. The Combined Court is the only body that can “raise 
and assess”’ taxes, and this it does only for a year, But even if it 
did grant supplies for more thana year, say, by passing the Customs Duties 
and the Tax Ordinances in the same way as other laws are passed, that is, 
until amended or repealed, no money could be appropriated except in the way 
previously sanctioned by the Court, Thus it exercises a power which the 
