FINANCIAL POSITION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 912, 3 September 1910, Page 6

FINANCIAL POSITION.

"BUOYANT AND IMPROVING." ■STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. Speaking in tho Hohfe of Representatives, yesterday the Prime,' Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) announced tho figures in respect of tho rovenuc for the five months ended August 3J, -also tho 'figures for the corresponding period of 1909. He was very glad to- say that there had beeu 'tin.'increase of JC3C9.789 in the revenue for the period . in-' this year. '■ Tho figures were":—' " ' ■ , : : ■ '■'■■.■ ■ . ■ ■ • Five Five .■■.■• .-. months months . ' ' . ■ , of of ■-.-.-■ '■■■•■ ■ ' 1909. 1910. Increase. ■.r '■':■■■ , £ ' £ ; ;£:' Customs ■ , 993,51? ' 153,305 StampsDcpart- . inent ■ 283.054 "-..■.-■■•• 415,959 ■ . 81,878 P. and T stamps , 21i,753 - , P.'and-'l\ l-eocipts 60,115 78,150 9,035 Land and in- ■ ■-.:': come tax ■ ... 24,203 ' 26,231 ' 1,968 Beer duty ... 41,131- 41,927 ; 793 Railways ■ .....: 1,169,808 1,269,231 ,' 99,423 Registration, etc. 33,811 29,720 * Marine ; . 16,691 .-16,743 49 Miscellaneous . 113,1)09 118;771 3,702 Territorial ... 66,455 87,182. 20,727 ■:■ Totals - ...2,942,585 3,312,674 372,880 ♦Less - decrease . ' ' :' in regard to ■ ■ ■'■ ' : - registration... '-.'.- 3,091 Net -total in- , -.- ■ , crease. , - '. Continuing his -remarks, Sir Joseph stated that for : the year ended August 31 last, coruparedwith the- previous twelve, months, there was an-increase under the various headings 0f'£593,157. He wanted io attract attention to the improved cori'ditipns in regard to -the-Customs' Depart-, nient revenue. This .was one of the ways in which, one could ■ judge, of the restoration in trade in this.country/- . No. doubt the .increase' that, had taken, place indicated an impetus in trade during .the.five months in. question of a marked, character. The. results in all Departments were r-sally v«ry satisfactory, the, , only decrease beiug in connection with registration and other fees. He was sure that the,country 'would be gratified at the'improved con-, dition of the - revenue; which he; hoptd .would go-oii at the same rate .for the rest'of the.year. . ■„'/..■.;.■...:'-..\ .-.-■ "Mr. Allen:. What about- the expenditure?.;' ~ ■''■', , ■-.- :<' r '.'r ■ ;"':'■' ■)■■;.....

■';. Tlie Prime'. Minister went -on ;to say that ■ t]ic : only way, that .one/could judge of the' progress of a country was by .the increase of revenue. AVheh the. qiiat'terly 'returns-, were-'ready the-, expenditure"-inyaft its/ details .would -be •: shown.' ■. 'His; pur'pbse for "the -'moment-' was to show, the ■splendid, - ' , improvement ■■which. , -.;-had taken. place>in .connection- with the revenue. ..'•';■" ;Mr; : Herdnijui said •that"'no doubt, the Teeeipts. were very, gratifying, but it would ; also be interesting if the details of .the expenditure could , be; given. .Was: the Prime'.Minister in apposition to give the ■additional information? '■-./ ; /-/'/' : . '' Tho. Prime Minister. said : that. Vas/ a .'general irulc Mr.Herdman gave the expenditure without giving .trie,'revenue. (Oh," ; no.)'.";.He was 'not , :attempting .to ■make :any comparison at tho moment; -he-, had not. mentioned 'the...figures .for party purposes.- It .was. not.his object to; 'make a comparison just;■'then as. to .whether.' the' Government''.'was!; doing'-as ;well\as' it'.might;' His, object was.nierely -to 'show that the '.'revenue, was- buoyant ■ and.-increasing. : In the- ordinary course ■of' events 'the; whole of.' the expenditure, .-would, , -be given.-' ■ ' V .-■' -/.-;.,-/:. ■Jlr.- Herdmnn" said'* that'; 'lie "too-was delighted<to;hear of the:improvement } in' ; the .'.'.revenue.:-.' .'.ln: -view.; of ■ the position, would the Prime. Minister consider -the' question of .'reducing taxation? ■ (Laiigli.■tor.).,.'. ■■ ■'.:,.'. ' ; .-. ■■ ~"■'.-').;:■■ -i ..-;,'. ■ Sir"Joseph: As MrLHerdmah';; is.'.\my :representative in Parliament I shall , take 'an ■opportunity of educating hinv:'a's' : td : should go about it outside 'the 'House. ; : (Laughter.) -.; ,' : ' "';'■' : . ; '-. : '.'',

.The Rev.:.Y7. Jellie, 8.A., ; will: begin his ministry .in the Unitarian Free, Church'to-morrow evening, when. ho,.will take as his subject, "The Things we Stand For."' \ ■ -.; ■;■':■■„ Tho Hon. Dr. l l indlay. vjU'. speak on a subject of importnnco on Sunday /afternoon at 3 o'clock from the platform of the Wellinpton City 'Men's .Brotherhood in. the King's Then Ire. This meeting will be open to all jneni ovor seventeen, 'to wliom a hearty welcome will be accorded. "Prison. Reform"-.is the.'subject .of the address,, and special music will.be rendered at tho.'people's service in the King's Theatre in tho evening, and the. Eev. 13. 0.. Blamivos ..will speak. A . children's concert is announced for AVodnesday ovenign next in ITertert' Street Hall-, 'iii aid of the kindergarten department' of the Sunday scliool. Action songs, dialogues, etc., will bo rendered by. .well-trained children. . ■ - ■'•; Tho New Zealand Alliance is bringing some of its platform orators .to take part in the Dominion demonstration in the Town Hall on Wednesday, September 14. Messrs. Wesley Spragg, T.- B. Taylor, M.P., A. S. Adams, L. M. Isitt, E. s! Gi-ay, and C. H. Poole, M.P., are to tako ■ part. ■ . .;■... A. reminder is given of the clearingout sale of cows, horses, poultry, farmin!,' implements, and household furniture, which will tako place to-day at Mr.'Chas. Cottle's homestead, Taita (Lower Hull), at 1 p.m. sharp. Mr. H. E. Leighton is the auctioneer. ...