RISING REVENUE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 447, 1 June 1937, Page 5

RISING REVENUE

CUSTOMS FIGURES FOR LAST MONTH Wellington Returns Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, June 1. Customs revenue collected! at Wellington continues' very buoyant with substantial increases in the major items. Sales tax, especially, continues to expand. This source of revenue is the best guide to business activity, and last month’s total of £129,965 is by .far :the highest figure yet recorded, either in Wellington or in any other part of New Zealland. Total collections from all sources last month amounted to £501,671, compared with £390,327 for May, 1936, an increase of £111,344.

The net Customs revenue- collected at Wellington latt. month totalled £324,887, the .second highest figure for over six years, compared with £262,191 in May, 1936, an increase of £62,696. For the five months of the current year the revenue -totals £l-,-431,221, compared with £1,278,754 for the corresponding period of 1936, an increase of £152,467. Comparing this year’s figures' with the firsit five months of 1933, the worst of 'the depression years so far as Custom? 1 revenue is concerned, there is an increase of £653.906, the 1933 total being £777,315, or littflo more than half that of the current year. Sales Tax and Beer Duty. Stales tax collections continue to expand, last month’s total of £129,965 being easily a record, and £42,611 in excess' of the £87,354 collected In May, 1936. The total for the -five months, £524,834 shows an increase of £115,051. over last year’s total of £409,783. This tax came into force on February 10, 1933, and the /total so flar collected at Wellington is £3,520,966.

Beer excise collections' fqr May totalled £5377 -compared with £4910

in May, 1936, an increase of £467. For the five months the figures are £29,819 and £24,932 respectively, an increase of £4887.