THE REVENUE.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1123, 10 December 1883, Page 2

THE REVENUE.

The Customs revenue shows a formidable decrease upon the Treasurer’s estimates. For the eight months of the financial year it has amounted to £933,296. This is close upon £BI,OOO less than was estimated for that period by Major Atkinson. The beer duty is also £5500 under, the mark. , The last four months have fluctuated considerably. There was a substantial increase of the Customs in August, but in September they fell off. In October there was again a recovery, but last month Customs yielded only £106,142 as against £122,467 for October. In November, 1882, the revenue was £127,618, so that it will be seen there is a deficiency of £16,000 and £21,000 respectively. No doubt there will be some recovery during the next four montlia"»Tbich are usually the best in the year, but it is highly improbable that the deficiency will be made up altogether. The best authorities think that there will be a deficit of at least £50,000 upon the Customs for the year. There will be a slight increase upon the Properly tax returns, but it seems pretty certain that the Treasurer will not have a pleasant task when he presents his next financial statement. He is, however, such a clover manipulator of figures, that after all he may show that if there is not an actual surplus the deficiency is so small that it is not worth troubling about. But if there should be no recovery in revenue during the remaining four months and the deficit is too large to be hidden, it becomes a matter of great interest to the tax burdened people as to how the difficulty is to be got over. Fresh taxation we feel sure will be opposed strongly ; we have too much already. The deficit, therefore, will have to be made up by economy in public works, and reductions in the Civil Service expenditure. Either course is a dangerous one for Government to attempt. What with the recent unpopular appointment of Public Works Minister, and a failing revenue, Government are likely to have a hard time of it next session. But a general election is close at hand, and the astute Premier will probably have a herring ready to draw across the scent.