INCREASING REVENUES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14491, 4 October 1910, Page 4

INCREASING REVENUES.

Among evidences which encourage the belief that national prosperity cannot be hopelessly marred by any policy of Government possible in a British State are the steady increases in national revenues common to the various dominions of the Empire. In New Zealand, trade is buoyant and prosperity noteworthy, in spite of emigration, while Canada with a flood of immigration enjoys the same blessings; for last month Canadian Customs showed an increase of £200,000 over the corresponding month of 1909, and we may therefore anticipate that the Canadian revenue for 1910 will exceed that of 1909 by several millions sterling. Australia, with its Labour Government, can display the same evidence of increasing wealth. The Federal Customs and excise for the past quarter show an increase of £380,000, and should give the Federal Parliament a million and a-half more to disburse in 1910-11 than in 1909-10. ' But this is i not due to the Labour Government Laoff' more tlia# our New. Zealand

prosperity is due to the existing Government. The abundant rains and the high prices for wool, butter, and, cereals have poured wealth into Australia at such a rate that the country rejoices in a prosperity it has not known for many a year. This necessarily and unavoidably reacts upon the revenue. If we look back to the time when Australia was slowly recovering from the great drought we see the situation plainly. In 1905-6 the Australian revenue was only £11,800,000; last year it was £15,500,000; and for the coming year it will presumably be over £17,000,000. So long as the Home market remains firm for the produce, which the colonies p<Jur into it in an ever-increasing volume, the present prosperous condition of things in those parts of the Empire is likely to continue. In the case of New Zealand we would again point out that at no time in its history was the occasion more favourable for the prosecution of a vigorous land settlement policy. Our exports might easily be increased enormously, and the general welfare of the whole Dominion proportionately enhanced, if the millions of acres now lying unproductive were brought into occupation and cultivation.