CUSTOMS RETURNS AND BEER DUTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 42

CUSTOMS RETURNS AND BEER DUTY.

GREATER ECONOMY URGED. WELLINGTON. January 3. A statement showing the amount of customs returns and beer duty collected in the dominion during the month of December, as compared with the previous December and also during the calendar year 1916, as compared with the year 1915, has been supplied by the IToti. Mr Myers. The revenue under both heads shows a failing off for the last month as compared with the previous December, but receipts for the past 12 months show increases over those of 1915 amounting to £633.815 in customs and £51.775 in beer duty. The returns for nine months of the year are also given. The figures arc as follow: CUSTOMS RETURNS. Doc. 1916. Doc, 1915. £278.292 £288.192 Calendar Calendar vear, 1915. year, 1916. £3,199,612 £3,833,427 BEER DUTY. Dec. 1916. Dec, 1915. £16,737 £22.417 Calendar Calendar year, 1915. year, 1916. £137,226 £139,091 Nine Months Financial Year. Customs-. Beer Duty. £2,927,203 £135,301 Mr Myers, in an interview to-r;ight, stated that while tiie above figures disclosed a slight, falling off in customs revenue for the month of December of £3900, and in beer duty of £5670, it was satisfactory so far as the dominion's finances were concerned. For the calendar year just ended there was an increase of £633,815 in customs revenue as compared with the 12 months ended December 31, 1915. " Although I have no statement of tho actual position before me," he added, "I think it may be safely accepted that this excess revenue for ISI6 is due more largely to enhanced values and primage duty than to any increase in the quantity of goods imported." In course of further remarks, the Minister said: "'While it is "ratifying that the dominion is experiencing a period of phenomenal prosperity owing to our important products realising prices which have never before been obtained in the history of the country, nevertheless I would again point out, in view of the problems that will have to be faced when peace arrives, the desirability of practising habits of economy and thrift and of endeavouring as far as possible to curtail the purchase of luxuries. Patriotism requires us to. refrain from spending money on non-essentials when every penhy wo can spare if needed for tho prosecution of tho war. Our policy should bo to restrict our expenditure to reasonable necessities and to lend to our country all we can save. We must not forget that the financial strain will increase the longer the war lasts, therefore the spirit of economy and self-sacrifice must grow with the need until the hour of victory arrives.