THE DOMINION'S FINANCES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 711, 10 January 1910, Page 4

THE DOMINION'S FINANCES.

The Prime Minister has been commendably prompt in making known the revenue returns for the December quarter of the financial year. ; As usual with Sir Joseph Ward, he has disclo'sed' the incomings only. The expenditure, which as a rule is a less pleasant thing to contemplate, he has rcscrvod for publication on somo future occasion! -Without having both sides of the ledger before us,' it is impossible to write with any confidence on the financial position, but we are inclined, to the opinion' that in face of the demand for economy the .expenditure for the'quarter is not likely _ to'have :been ; excessive.. Should this anticipation, prove correct, the quarter's accounts will qiiite realise expectations, and. - there : is. promise at the close of the; financial year of a surplus considerably in excess of that forecast in the Budget; Sir Joseph Ward expresses satiefaction'at the rovenue returns, recorded to date for the current year, and, in the circumstances, he .is .; perhapß right in. doing so. iAt • the same time it is just as' well; to,bear',in mind that the increase, compared' with'the increases of 'previous years, is a small and affords no excuse for any relaxing of. .the purse strings of the Treasury. -The: revenue returns for the December, quarter■ of 'each yoa'r since 1904 are a'sffollbw:—

"" .; Revenue." Increase; - ■■■■■':'■■'.'.' '•■.-.. ■■ '■.-■■■£■'■'■ '■■■. ..■■'■'.£■•.. 1904 .„.'...;....;....:.;. 1,953,507- ■•::■-,■■ i 905 .....;...:..; 2,033,705' ■' so,i9a 1906 .;........'........... ! 2,343,490 .. 209,785 1907 .■;..•..'.;..•...'....:..;';;;.'2,177,797-.-v.-: 134,307 1908 .....'; 2,591,387 ■-',: 113,590 1909:.....................' 2,647,073' : .. .55,085 Tho.December /quarter, is' the'" third: j quarter of financial; year, •■■■' and the revenue, returns for nine 'months arov therefore "'. now available. ■; Cornpared with the corresponding period ofl-thc .previous, 'year. they.'.shqw. an increase; '0f'."£91,425;;; : the ;; greater part of which was, of course," gained during ;the- quarter, just ended. Tak>i'rig; the -returns ■ for the .nine-monthly period for six years'past, we" get the following interesting set of figures: .''i\.;y; '-\ ' "r.':'. ■'.• Revenue.-.lncrease. .1901 : ■■...;,;;.......;..;.; 5,025,626 .'-;- 170,100 1905:,' 1.....;........;......'■;■ 5,213,1542, ;' 188,016 '1906-': ;.......,:;....;- 5,826,000 '.612,418 1907:' i ,'. 6,307,101' ',: 481,041 1908 :-........,..;.:....;;.;' 6,421,028. '. "■ : ; , ,U3,927 1009:; ;i;.......;..:; v ::.,..;, 6.445,811 ;::;;;;; '91.425 Hero again. will be seen : 'a :substan: tial : ;fauing;'offViri;the Tate;,6f: ;increase,.',,Tariff some'; two • years .'ago. account in.' part, for .-.'this,' but -the poriod of throughwhioh;thc country., nas".passed■ ;:has been an .important :factor. The moßt satisfactory. feature "of .'the revenue roturns.Vfor i'.the, nine; months is tho fact 'that' ..the- last quarter Vpf; ,thb three ; showß tho best results, and 'is a' further evidence of 'returnirig ! 'prbs-; penty.'throughout;the; Dominion.';' '-