DOMINION FINANCES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 127, 1 February 1909, Page 5

DOMINION FINANCES.

The Prime Minister during the course of an interview at Napier on Friday last, announced that the year's surplus for the Dominion would probably exceed £142,000. The revenue for last quarter amounted to £2,591, 388 as against £2,477/798 for the corresponding- quarter of the previous year showing an increase of £1.13,590. In consequence of the amendment of the Customs tariff, the abolition of the' sheep tax and other concessions resulting in an estimated annual loss of £425,000 to the revenue, it will be seen what an enormous expansion has taken place in the revenue of the Dominion. When it is stated that [the receipts indicate a substantial increase over the corresponding period of the previous year. The expenditure for the quarter is £2,449.831, or £97,055 more than that of the December quarter of 1907. The increases occurred under the following heads:— Railways, £24,000; police, £12,000; defence, £14,000; agriculture, £11,000; ' education, £24,000; public buildings, £BOOO. The Prime Minister said regarding the general figures of Departmental appropriations, there will at the end of the financial year be an increase of about £47,000; but the revenue gives every indication of exceeding my estimate in the Budget by £116,000. Our substantial increase is something that the Dominion is to be congratulated upon, in view of the fact that there has been a considerable shrinkage of revenue in most. countries during the same period. Expenditure, owing to increased- railway requirements, will probiaply exceed by £41,000, so that the increase for the year may be set forth as follows: E&timated revenue for ' the year, £9 100,000; balance brought forward* £767,849; total, £9,867,849. Expenditure for the year," about ~458,925,000; 'transferred froms the . Gpnaolidatd Fond to toe Public Works Fund, .£800,000;, total, £9,725;000. Estimated' B arpluaj<£J42iß4&. * ,* -