The Hastings Standard Published Daily. SATURDAY, JAN. 30, 1897. THE REVENUE RETURNS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 234, 30 January 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

SATURDAY, JAN. 30, 1897. THE REVENUE RETURNS.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Last week's Gazette contains the usual statement respecting the quarterly revenue returns, and though belated, the figures sire decidedly satisfactory. The Government will, no doubt, take full credit for the improvement; while the Opposition will, on the other hand, discount the importance of the increase. Where party politics run riot, this is only to be expected. The improvement in the revenue gives indication of returning prosperity, and although there may be special reasons assigned for special increases, the figures indicate a revival of commercial activity. The customs revenue for the quarter shows an increase of £G7,9iW, as compared with the December quarter of 1895. and this accretion is, no doubt, partly due to the activity in gold mining. It is a well known fact that, owing to the disposal of several mining properties in the London market, a large amount of foreign capital has been made available for development work, and fart of this work consists in erecting machinery. Mining machinery and mining requisites must have helped the customs revenue, so also has the bicycle boom, with the 20 per cent, duty on bikes. Stamps also show a large increase, the amount being X'2a,4:w. and here again this may be said that the mining industry has been of special service. The railway revenue exhibits an improvement to the extent of tHH.ToT. IU-er duty has increased by £'4l*3, and this will not be pleasing to the Prohibitionists. From a sentimental point of view the increase in the beer ditty revenue may be exasperating but from a commercial standpoint it indicates that the working classes who are the principal consumers, have been better able to atlord the luxury. In brief the working classes have found profitable employment and were able to indulge themselves with pints. The beet

duty revenue may be looked upon as the barometer of the labor market, and the reading of the barometer for last quarter -was high. The other increases in the quarter's revenue are : —Post and Telegraph, £1,631; Land Tax, £179-5; Income Tax, £2011; Territorial £8268. There was a decrease of £1402 in respect of miscellaneous. The total increase in the quarter's revenue as compared with the corresponding period of 1895 was £140,538, figures that are substantial enough to satisfy the most exact.