The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY. OCTOBER 7, 1889. REVENUE PROSPECTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2246, 7 October 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY. OCTOBER 7, 1889. REVENUE PROSPECTS.

With a rising wool market, fairly good prices for grain, and good prices for meat and flax, tho present prospects

of New Zealand afford a very pleasing contrast to the condition of things as existing any time during the previoua three years. AU this will have its effect upon the colonial revenuo as well as on the bank balances of private individuals, and as a like improvement appears to be going on m other directions, political prophets declare that the Treasurer will, at the end of the financial year, be m the happy position of having to declare a very hand some surplus. Frominformation supplied to the " Otago Daily Times" wo learn that although for the half-year just ended the receipts from Customs show a deficit as compared with the estimate of £85,000, this "is looked upon by competent judges as a most satisfactory result, for although the customs are estimated to produce £1,550,000 m the year, they were not estimated to produce half that sum m the first six months. It is well known that the first half of the year — the winter half — is almost always the less profitable of the two m respect of customs revenue, and it is to the summer monthß that the Colonial Treasurer looks for the bulk of the returns under this heading. Last year the customs were considerably more than £100,000 short m the first six months, but they pulled up rapidly afterwards, although they did not fully reach the estimate. This year there are certain definite grounds for anticipating some heavy receipts m the coming six months. The almost assured influx of large numbers of people during the Dunedin Exhibition months is morally certain to have a very beneficial influence on the customs. This is always the case m Buch circumstances. Again it has been ascertained by careful enquiries that the orders sent home by importers and the shipments despatched and contemplated from the Mother Country to New Zealand are of such a magnitude and nature as to ensure big * hauls ' m the way of customs duty on arrival. It is, therefore, deemed tolerably safe to count upon the full amount of the estimate being realised by the 31st March, so fai as customs are concerned/ While then it is anticipated that the customs revenue will, for the reaons stated, reach the total calculated upon it appears that stamps will show ft very large excesß owing to the large amounts of succession duties accruing upon the estates of wealthy persons deceased, the duty on the estate of the late Hon. W. Robinson alone representing the large sum of £85,000. Then owing to the dropping of the Property Assessment Bill the Treasury will rake m from £7000 to £8000 more than had been calculated upon, and the projected loan conversion will also, it is believod, benefit the year's finance to the extent of some thousands. Further it is reckoned that allowing for the increased traffic which will be a result of the Exhibition at

Dunedin thero will bo an excess over the estimated amount of railway revenue of from £70,000 to £80,000, so that all these things being tukeu into account, it

would seem that the anticipation of a baud some surplns at the close of tbe current financial year is abundantly justified . It is believed that the amount will exceed £150,000 and "will very closely approach, if it does not reach, the large sum of £200,000." "So mote it

be " will be the wish of every taxpayer, for if anything like this anticipation be realised Parliament should be able to ease tbe burdens of colonists by a very substantial remission of taxation.