PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

Wairarapa Age, 3 February 1927, Page 5

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

FIGURES FOR NINE MONTHS. SMALL NET REVENUE INCREASE. WELLINGTON, February 2. The Public Accounts for the quarter ended December 31, 1926, are gazetted. The total revenue received for the nine months amounted to £16,128,220, as compared with £14,806,362 received for the corresponding period of last yoar, an increase of £1,321,858. This increase, however, is largely nominal. After allowing for certain large amounts received earlier this year, the net increase in revenue is approximately £lBO,OOO. Apart from these nominal items, the principal increases are: Postal and Telegraph, £169,073; income tax, £70,392; departmental receipts, £69,074. The principal decreases are: Customs, £28,365; Stamp and Death ■Duties, £ll„504; land tax, £40,190. The total expenditure for tho nine months was: Permanent Charges, £lO,623,514; Annual Appropriations, £6,998,230! total, £17,621,744; as compared with Permanent Charges, £9,689,955; Annual Appropriations, £6,964,929; total, £18,654,884; for the. corresponding period of last year. The increase of £966,860 is made up as follows: Permanent Charges, £933,559; Annual Appropriations, £33,301'; total, £966,860. The principal items of increase are, under Permanent Charges, interest, £186,984; Repayment of the Public Debt Act, 1925, £455,000; under Special Acts, £272,459. Included in the above increases, however, are payments totalling approximatch/£630,000, which have been made earlier this year, so that the true comparative increase is approximately £300,000.

Under Annual Appropriations, the principal increases are: Legislative Departments, £36,660; maintenance and repairs to roads, £44,076; Internal Affairs, £23,551; Naval Defence, £57,119; Customs, £15,076; Department of Education, £91,216; and the principal decreases are: Post and Telegraph working expenses, £140,927; Department-of Industries and Commerce, £30,804; Scenery Preservation, £16,146; Electoral Department, £71,318.—(P.A.).