INCREASES SHOWN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 5, 1 October 1935, Page 11

INCREASES SHOWN

Wellington Customs Revenue

NINE MONTHS’ TOTALS

Record Sales Tax Return

Customs revenue received at U ellington continues very buoyant, the collections in September, showing increases, in most cases substantia), for every item compared with the corresponding month of 1034. The net Customs figure is up by nearly £60,000, while the sales tax total is a record one, exceeding August’s record by £578. The net Customs revenue collected at Wellington last month totalled £227,827, compared witii £168,968 in September, 1931, an increase of £58,859, while compared with September, 7933, the increase is £83,270._ For the nine expired mouths of 1935,■ the net Custonjs revenue totals £1,951,607, compared with £1,060,674 for the corresponding period of 1934, an increase of £290,933. Compared with the first nine months of 1933, the increase is £545 912 A detailed comparison for each of the nine months is given in the follow-

Motor-Spirit and Tires. The duty collected on motor-spirit last month totalled £28.413 at 6d a gallon, and £18,749 at 4d. a gallon, a total of £47,162, compared with £27,96-1 at 6d. a gallon and £18,649 at 4d. a gallon, a total of £46,613 for September, 1934, an increase of £549. For the nine months the figures are £469,808 and £517,13S respectively, a decrease of £47,330. The amounts collected at 4d. a gallon are already included iu the net Customs revenue given above, being paid into the Consolidated Fund as distinct from those at 6d a gallon, which go to the Main Highways Fund. The smaller revenue from motorspirit in recent months is not due to decreased consumption, but to the steadily increasing numbers of bonded tanks in the smaller centres. Formerly all, or almost all, motor-spirit discharged at Wellington paid duty in Wellington. Now a large proportion of the petrol used iu the Hawke's Bay, Wanganui and Taranaki districts is railed from Wellington and placed in bonded tanks in those districts, paying duty where it is drawn off from the bonded tanks. This accounts for the decreased revenue from petrol at Wellington this year. Collections of tire tax last mouth totalled £2lBl, compared with £1587 for September, 1934, an increase of £594. For the nine months there is an increase of £3334, the figures being £lB,708 and £15,374 respectively. Sales Tax and Beer Duty. Collections of sales tax in September totalled £76,186, which establishes a new record, compared with £62,502 iu September, 1934, au increase of £13,684. The total for the nine months, £628,554. shows an increase of £119.541 over last year’s total of £509.043. This tax came into force ou February 10, 1933, and the total so far collected at Wellington is £1,751,445. Beer excise collections for September totalled £4969, compared with £3016 for September, 1934, an Increase of £1953. For the nine months there is an increase of £2033, the figures being £40,192 and £38,159 respectively.

AUCKLAND RETURNS By Telegraph —Press Association. Auckland, September 3G. The sum of £235,658 collected in Customs revenue at Auckland in September was the highest September total for at least 20 years; it was also tbe greatest amount collected in any one month this year, and was £32,899 more than the £202,759 received in September 1934. It reflects the beginning of the importing season after a period when merchants were carrying comparatively low stocks. Customs duty collected iu the past nine months totalled £1,898,084, compared with £1,889,973 iu the same period of 1934. An Increase was recorded also in revenue from petrol and tire tax. the £47.953 received in September being £3154 greater than the £44,799 recorded in September last year. The uine-nicnuily total, however, shows a decrease of £4493. being £400.690, as against £405,183. Receipts from sales tax continued to increase, £57,489 being collected in September, compared with £52,253 in September, 1934. Figures for the nine months were £46,402 greater, being £495.942. as against £449.540. The £10,308 collected in beer duty in September was an increase of £2u97 on the corresponding mouth of last yea’’, hut tbe figure for the nine months, £96,207, was a decrease of £1409 on the corresponding period.

CHRISTCHURCH INCREASE

Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, September 30. Customs figures for September and for the first six mouths of the financial year indicate that the improved condition of trade has been maintained. Tota’ receipts from Customs were greater by £28,000 than the figures for the same period last year. Detailed figures arc

DUNEDIN RETURNS By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, September 30. A considerable increase amounting to £ll.OOO in imports to the port of Dunedin during the month of September is revealed by a comparison of the Customs revenue for the month with that for the corresponding period last year. The figures fop the half-jeap to-day, on

the other hand, reveal a decrease of over £9OOO. Last month Customs duty amounted to £58.682/4/7, compared with £47,656/6/o for September, 1934. The amount.collectcd for the first half of the current liuaocial vear was £316,021/9/9, against £325,294 3/7 during the same period of last year. Tbe month was a particularly good one from the point of view of the Customs Department. Beer duty was eonsvlerably higher than in September. 1934. Last month the sum of £27,797/11/2 was collected, compared with £14.412?16/8 last year, an increase of £13,384/14/6. There was a decrease o£ £5540/9/4 over the half-yearly period, however, the figure for this year being £106,567/15/6. and for last year £112,108/4/10. Collections of sales tax increased both for the month and for the six months. In September of this year the total was £19,053/1/7. and for the same month last year £17.954/19/8 was collected, nn increase of £lO6B/1/11. For the half-year, £120.037/10/5 was collected, compared with £118,235/14/1 lust year, tbe increase being £lBOl/16/4. The following figures, with shillings and pence omitted, give a comparison of the revenue derived in September, 1935, with that for the same month last year:—

Following are the figures for tae first six months of the current financial year, together with the corresponding figures

ing table: — 1933. 1931. £ £ January ... ■ 221,424 191,707 February 192,631 153,691 March 208,137 179,834 April 207,431 181,569 May June 249,462 188,697 196,056 154,052 July 212,088 211,351 August September .. 243,910 227,827 220,440 168,968 Totals 1,951,607 1,060,674

as follow:— Sept., 1935 Sept., 1934 £ .. 76,013 £ 55 646 Beer duty .... .. <1,978 5,430 Sales tax ... .. 25,928 21.550 Motor spirit ax 14,269 15.432 Tire duty ... .. 419 316 For the six months the figures are AprilSept., Sept.. 1935, 1934. £ £ Customs .... .. 420,437 396,S71 Beer duty .. 41,571 40,475 Sales tax ... .. 156,594 140, WO Motor spirit . .. 90,500 97 489 Tire duty ... .. 6,121 5,198

Customs duty Sept., 1935 Sept.. 1931 £ .. 58,682 17,680 14.412 Sales tax .... .. 19,053 17,984 .. 10,983 13,319 Tire tax .. 865 734 Gold .. 1,435 1,248

for last year:— AprilSept., Sept., 1935. 1934. £ •£ Customs duty •• 310,021 325,301 Beer duty 100.507 112.108 Sales t«ix 120,037 118,235 Petrol ......... 07, J SO 79,050 Tire tax ......™ 4,470 4,285 Gold 11,926 9.427