GREAT BRITAIN’S YEARLY REVENUE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 June 1901, Page 3

GREAT BRITAIN’S YEARLY REVENUE.

An Increase of over Ten Millions On the last day of the financial year, which closed on March 30, the nation’s balance-sheet was issued, and it shows an increase of over ten millions in income, It was inevitable that there should bo a decline in the amount received in death duties, and there has been a very appreciable fall, amounting to over threefifths of a million, in the amount obtained from stamps. Comparisons between Sir Michael’s prognostications and the realisations indicate that he has a surplus of two and a-balf millions sterling. We smoked more than ever, and became increasingly addicted to the use of tea, which, becomes to a greater extent each year the national drink of the fair sex - . Customs—tobacco bearing an additional tax of 4d a pound, foreign cigars 6d, and tea 2d—greatly exceeded expectations. On the other hand we drank less, for excise, which embraced Is per barrel on beer and fid per gallon on spirits, brought in about half a million sterling less than was expected. The revenue returns for the year just ended are : Customs £26,489,197 Excise 38,397,414 Estates, &c., duties ... 17,089,329 Stamps ... 7,825,000 Land Tax ... ... 755,000 House Duty ... ... 1,720,000 Property and Income Tax 26,920,000 Post Office ... ... 13,800,000 Telegraph Service ... 3,450,000 Crown Lands 500,000 Receipts from Suez Canal shares and sundry loans ... 830,000 Miscellaneous 2,242,609 Total: £140,018,624 This total is exclusive of a sura, estimated at 105,0001, paid by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in pursuance of the Tithe Rent-Charge (Rates) Act, 1899. It includes, however, £9,633,9401. paid to the local taxation account and drawn from excise and estate duties mainly. If this is deducted the net income for use for Imperial purposes is arrived at —£130,384,684. In the returns given above, estate duties, stamps,_ landtax, Suez canal receipts, and miscellaneous decreased £2,130,826. _ The revenue from the other sources increased £12,292,720. Consequently the net increase is £10.251,894.

During the five years which elapsed between the census of 1896 and that of 1901, the population of the Wellington Provincial District has increased from 121,854 to 141,236. In the Taranaki Provincial District the population lias risen from 31,175 to 37,842. The special correspondent of the Lyttelton Times at Auckland telegraphs:—On the verdict of Mr Le Sage, of the London Daily Telegraph, who has been touring the colony with the royal visitors, the reception in Auckland has been the moat enthusiastic yet accorded. Even if this be so, Auckland has only thrown a main which it will not bo very difficult for some of New Zealand’s other centres to beat. For instance, the display in Dunedin on the visit of the Imperial troops was infinitely more hearty and inspiring than that of Auckland.