DOMINION'S REVENUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 707, 11 January 1910, Page 3

DOMINION'S REVENUE.

INCREASE FOR YEAR, .£24,283. Invkrcargill, Jan. 9. Sir Joseph Ward stated to a reporter that the figures for the Treasury for the last (December ) quarter were closed, and the revenue results were satisfactory. The amount received for the December quarter was £2,647,073, or £55,685 more than for the December quarter last year. The analysis of the revenue for the nine months, as compared with the corresponding period of 190 S, are 1909, £6,445,311 ; 1908, £6,421,028 ; increase for 1909, £24,283. The comparative results are shown in the following table : December Nine mths. Quarter to Dec. £ £ 1909 2,647,073 6,443,311 1908 2,591,388 6,421,028 Increase 55,685 24,283 To this has to be added £67,142 from National Endowments, which gives an increase for the nine months of £91,425. The increases or decreases on the various leading items for the nine mouths are;— Increase Decrease for nine for nine months, months. £ £ Land and income tax ... 55,36.3 Railways ... 185,753 Miscellaneous ... 31,053 Customs ... Stamps ... Beer duty ... Registration and State fees ... Marine ... Territorial ... Net increase 24,283 The Prime Minister emphasises the fact that the increase for the December quarter is £55,685. The fact that last quarter shows such a satisfactory increase is, in Sir Joseph’s opinion, an indication that better times had superseded the period of depression through which the Dominion had passed, and it pointed to the corner having been well turned. As Minister for Finance he was very gratified at the results, which should inspire the people of the country with renewed confidence, and there was no reason why they should not continue the steady progress which had produced such excellent results for December quarter. The quarter’s results, continued Sir Joseph Ward, added to the fact that the nine mouths of 1909, as compared with the same period iu 1908, showed the improvemedt which he had indicated, clearly demonstrated that there had been improved conditions during the whole of that period. PRIME MINISTER’S OPINION. The Prime Minister has expressed his satisfaction with the revenue returns for the past nine mouths. The fact that the last quarter showed such a satisfactory increase was, in his opinion, an indication that bettei times had followed the period of depression through which the Dominion had passed, and strongly pointed to the corner having been well turned. As Minister for Finance, he was very gratified with the results, which should inspire the people of the country with renewed confidence, ani there was no reason why they should not continue the steady progress which had produced such excellent results for the December quarter. This, taken in conjunction with a comparison of the nine months of 1909, with the same period of 1908, showed that the improvement which he had indicated clearly demonstrated that there had been improved conditions during the whole of that period.