SHARP DECREASE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 260, 1 August 1939, Page 11

SHARP DECREASE

Wellington Customs Revenue SALES TAX LOWER Figures For Seven Months In contrast to the very high Customs 'revenue collected at the port of Wellington in June, the figures for July show a sharp contraction. With the exception of petrol tax, there are decreases under all heads compared with July, 1938, and there are heavy decreases under all heads when compared with June. The net revenue last month amounted to £264,666, a decrease of £71,050 compared with June, and £10,335 compared with July, 1938, while it is the lowest figure for any month since February, 1938. Sales tax also shows a sharp contraction, being £26,484 lower than for June, and slightly below the figure for July, 1938. The figures under all heads for the four months of the current financial year compare as follows with those for the same months of 1938:—

The net Customs revenue collected in Wellington last month totalled £264,666, compared with £275,001 in July. 1938, a decrease of £10,335. For the seven months of the current year revenue totals £2,090,503, compared with £2,048,885 for the corresponding period of 1938, an increase of £41,618. A detailed comparison for each of the seven months is given in the following table:—

• Sales Tax and Beer Duty. Collections of sales tax in July totalled £107,844, compared with £109.185 in July, 1938, a decrease of £1341. The total for the seven months, £829,532, shows an increase of £82,994 when compared with the £746,538 collected during the corresponding period of 1938. This tax came into force on February 10, 1033, and the amount so far collected in Wellington totals £6,498,492. Beer excise collections last month totalled £5032, compared with £5819 in July, 1938, a decrease of £787. For the seven months the totals are £43,595 and £46,914 respectively, a decrease of £3319. Motor Spirit and Tyre Tax. The duty collected on motor spirit last month totalled £42,095 at 6d. a gallon, compared with £39,489 in July, 1938, an increase of £2606. For the seven months the figures are £319,067 and £306,838 respectively, an increase of £12,229. The amounts collected at 4d. a gallon are included in the net Customs revenue given above, being paid into the Consolidated Fund, and are not now taken out separately. Collections of tyre tax last month amounted to £1630, compared with £2368 in July, 1938, a decrease of £738. For the seven months the figures are £17,230 and £13,313 respectively, an increase of £3917. AUCKLAND FIGURES By Telegraph—Press Association, AUCKLAND, July 31. A decline of more than £25,000 in Customs duty, and falls in all other types of revenue except motor spirit duty, marked Auckland collections by the Customs Department during July. Customs duty was the lowest for any month this year. For the first seven months of the year, however, total collections still show increases under all headings except excise on beer. Details of returns for July, with figures for the same month last year in parentheses, are as follows: — Customs duty, £252,066 (£277,102); motor spirit tax, £69,773 (£61,084) ; tyre duty, £2461 (£3384) ; excise on beer, £13,203 (£13,697); sales tax, £84,737 (£86,213). CHRISTCHURCH DOWN By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 31. For the first time since import restrictions were introduced the revenue at Christchurch from Customs duty showed a decline in July. The fall on the amount for July of last year was nearly 10 per cent. Customs duty collected for the four months of the financial year is £35 above the amount received last year. However, the total collection made by the Customs Department in Christchurch for the four months is £33.579 higher, though revenue for July, totalling £170,927, was £5076 be- ■ low that of last July. Receipts for the four months:— 1938-39 1939-40 £ £ Customs 370,884 370,929 Beer duty 40,752 41,472 Petrol tax 96,791 106,365 Tyre tax 4,015 3,730 Sales tax 144,126 167,740 Light dues 2,619 2,141 Export levies on wool 1,138 1,412 On honey 18 1 On meat 5,629 5,881 Miscellaneous ........ 259 229 Totals 666,321 699,900 July, 1938. 1939. Customs 102,349 92,525 Beer 10,693 10,252 Petrol 21,626 23,322 Tyres 1,046 1,435 Sales tax 38,086 40.817 Light dues 574 493 Export levies, wool . 106 ISO Honey Nil Nil Meat ..... 1,469 1,812 Miscellaneous 54 61 Totals 176,003,170,928 DUNEDIN RETURNS By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 31. Though import restrictions have been in force for a considerable time, their effect on Customs duty collected at the Port of Otago has made itself felt for the first time during the past month, when receipts totalled close on £BOOO lees than .

those for the same period last year. Beer duty, however, showed an advance of over £ll,OOO on that collected during July last year. One reason for this large increase Was that the past month included five Mondays, that being the day upon which beer returns are made. Sales tax figures for the month showed an increase of more than £l5OO on those for the slime months last year, but, possibly on/account of the exceptionally bad weather .experienced, petrol and tyre tax figures both showed a decrease on those for July, 1938.

1939. £ 1938. £ Net Customs . 1,185,658 1,152,530 Sales tax .... 485,133 436,625 Motor spirit .. 176,658 173,442 Tyre tax , 7,991 8,525 Beer excise .. 24,779 25,817

1939. £ 1938. £ January ... . 279,059 313,183 February .. . 304,761 262,071 March .... .. 321,026 321,102 April ...... . 264,859 309,155 May .. 320,116 291,949 June . 335,716 276,424 July . 261,666 275,001 Totals . 2,090,503 2,048,885

J uly • ’figu res a re 1938. £ •< 1039. £ Customs duty .... 50.250 58.138 Beer duty . „ . . .... 29.668 18.525 Sales ft ax .... 26.172 24,426 Petro] tax . • • • .... 13.138 13.645 Tyre fax ........ .... 433 6 19 Gold ta x .... 92-1 1,718 Total .... 121,618 118,252