THE BANANA MINISTRY. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 9, 10 July 1885, Page 3

THE BANANA MINISTRY. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib— Why are the present Ministers like bananas ? Do you give it np ? Because they have thick skins and no back bone. I am, &0., Rsal Jam.

It is of interest (says the St. James* Gazette) to compare the principal features of the Budget introduced into the House of Commons by Mr. Childers with those of the first Budget of the present reign. On the 30th Juno, 1837, Mr. Spring Eice, then Chancellor of the Exohequor, introduced the first Budget of the reign of Queen Victoria. He estimated tho income for the ensuing year at .£47,240,000, and tho expenditure at .£46,631,415. Now Mr. Childera estimates the inoomo of tho coming year (on the basis of * fivepenny income tax) at £85,140,000, and the expenditure, exolusive of the vote of credit, at £88,872,000. In 1837 the Customs were estimated to produce a trifle over 21 millions, and the exoise something less than 14 millions. The actual provision for the coming year amounts to -8100,072,000, showing that in 48 years the income and expenditure of the Empire have more than doubled. Why is a bank-note like a female oater r pillar? Because it is hard to counterfeit (count-her-feet !)

WATERLOO COUBBING MEETING. [bt tjsleobaph.] l united fbesB association. j Chbibtchbbch, This Day. Tho Waterloo Cup Coursing Meeting was continued to-day, the weather being fine. Waterloo Cup.— Fifth round: Ringwood beat Waitangi, Salamander beat Bergaford.