CUSTOMS REVENUE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 2 June 1937, Page 2

CUSTOMS REVENUE.

INCREASE AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, May 31. Customs revenue collected at Wellington continues very buoyant with substantial increases in tiie 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 £129,905 is by far the highest figure yet recorded, either in Wellington or in any other part of New Zealand. Total collections from all sources last riionth amounted to £501,671, compared with £390,321 for May, 1936, an increase of £111,344. The net Customs revenue collected at AYellington last month totalled £324,887, the second highest figure for over six years, compared with £262,191 in May, 1936, an i norease of £62,696. For the five months of the current year the revenue totals £1,431,221, compared with £1,278,754 for the corresponding period of 1936, an increase of £152,467.

Comparing this year’s figures with the first five months of 1933, the worst of the depression years so far as Customs revenue is concerned, there is an increase of £653.906, the 1933 total being £777,315, or little more than half that of the current year. The duty collected on motor spirit last month totalled £40.339 at Od a gallon and £26,893 at 4d a* gallon, a total of £67,232, compared with £34,083 at 6d a gallon and £22,722 at 4d a gallon, a total of £56,805 for May, 1936, an increase of £10,427. For the five months the totals a.re £352,672 and £365,525 respectively, a decrease of £12,853. This decrease is due to the abnormal total of £119,736 in March, 1936, caused by an adjustment of duty suspense accounts, and is not an indication that petrol consumption has decreased this year. Collections of tyre tax last month totalled £llO3 compared with £1789 in May, 1936, a decrease of £686. For the five months there is a decrease of £287, the figures being £8303 and £8590 respectively. Sales 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, x£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 60 far collected at Wellington is £3,520,966. Beer excise collections for May totalled £5377 compared with £4910 in Ma.y, 1936. an increase of £467. For the five months the figures are £29,819 and £24,932 respectively, an increase of £4887.

CHRISTCHURCH RETURNS. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. Revenue collected by the Customs Department in Christchurch continues to shorv a marked increase on the figures for last year. sources of revenue last month £35, 1 63 more was received than in May, 1936. Customs duties account for the largest part of the increase, £94,923, compared with £78,124, but receipts from the sales tax have risen from £30,072 to £40,730- Figures for May (1936 and 1937 in that order) are as follow:—Customs (net), £73,124, £94,923; Excise on beer, £6,558, £8,268; sales tax, £30,072, £40,730; petrol tax, £17,840, £19,460; ,tyre duties, £1042, £1061; light dues on shipping, £825, £462; export levy . (wool), nil, £609; export levy (meat), £1074, £921; Miscellaneous, £175, £45; totals, £130,713, £166,479. AUCKLAND REVENUE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 31. Customs revenue collected in Auckland during May shows an all-round decrease from the April figures, but this is merely a seasonal tendency. Rejeeipts under all headings are very substantially higher than those for the same- month last year and conform to be [new levels of the import trade and industrial production in the Dominion. Customs receipts amounted to £244,413, compared with £232,260 lor May, 1936, and fjjhe respective totals, including motor spirit and tyre duties, were £305,380 and £289,012. Excise on beer produced £14,324, and sales tax receipts were £85,856, compared with £68,921 a year ago. For the first five months of 1937 the ordinary Customs revenue totalled £l,i±0,352, compared with £1,607,622. For the same period last year the figures, including motor spirit and tyre duties, were '‘£1,715,352, and £1,607,622 respectively. Excise on beer produced £74,251, compared with £63,717 lor last year's period, and sales tax receipts were £407,820 and £322,160 respectively. DUNEDIN INCREASES. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, May 31.. An all-round. increase is revealed in the Customs figures for May when the figures are compared with those for the same month last year. Customs duty increased by £4202 and beer duty by £10,864, but an extra day in which the latter duty was payable this month accounts for the unusual rise. Sales tax continues to rise steadily and with the exception of gold duty, which is £l2O less, there is a rise in all other, sections also. Substantial increases are revealed in a comparison between the first five months of this and last calender years. Details for May are as follow, the figures for May 1936 being shown in parentheses : —Customs duty, £60,809 (£56,607); beer duty, £29,912 (£19,048)-, sales tax, £26,080 (£24,857); petrol tax (at 6d), £15,371 (£14,753); tyre- tax, £BIB (£490); gold duty, £1982 (£2202).