THE COUNTRY’S INCOME.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13175, 6 February 1936, Page 5

THE COUNTRY’S INCOME.

REVENUE UP TO ESTIMATES SO FAR A BALANCED BUDGET, SAYS MB NASH. Electria Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. The public accounts review of the budgetary position for the ’ nine months ended December 31, 1935, was gazetted today. On the revenue side the comparative position of the \ principal items is set out in the foltable. As the revenue does tflrot come in evenly during the year and the amount to be received under the various heads varies from year to year a comparison of the actual receipts with those of the corresponding period in the previous year does not always g,ive a true view of the position. The last two columns showing the percentages of receipts to the total or estimated revenue for the year have therefore been added as giving a better guide to the position from the budgetary point of view.

MINISTER S STATEMENT. The Minister of Finance (Hon. Walter Nash) stated that the futures disclosed a satisfactory position. Taking the actual receipts, taxation showed an increase of £130.000 as compared with last year. Interest and otner receipts disclosed decreases of £163.000 and £1,2-17,000, but this was iu accordance with the estimate for the year, the large decrease under “other receipts’’ being due to the receipt in the previous year of substantial profits from the sale of gold coin. The main increases in taxation were: Customs. £387,000; beer duty. £17.000; sales tax. £215,000; and other taxation, £2B, (XX), while highways and stamp duties showed decreases. Tin* decrease in highways was purely nominal, being due to the alteration in the method of collection this year and will adjust itself by March 31. EXPENDITURE. On the epondituro .side the comparative position show,, that the total expenditure is £900.000 under the proportionate part of the appropriations for the year, but it is not expected that this position will he maintained a** fairly large' payments will have to he made in the final quarter of the year. Generally speaking, it appears that the revenue will he well up to the estimate and the expenditure within the appropriations when the accounts are finalised for the year. Thus tin* prospects art.* that the year will close with a balanced Budget.

Nine Nine TnPcntge. Pcntge. months months crease. of total of estieliding to for mate for 31/12/31, 31/12/35. 1934-35. 1935-36 £. • £. £. Customs iT'vi'iiui' . , 5,oGl,3l)0 5,961,215 396,915 74.95 75.45 Itcor tlutv 500,512 518,21 1 17,702 75.59 76.77 Sides tux 1,622.941 1.838,200 215,256 74.77 74.27 Highways .. 1,464,572 1,159,101 5,471* 76,66 71.52 Stamps, etc .. 2,611.817 2.089,504 522,313* 74.18 77.10 Other taxation . .. J,522. 120 1,580,473 28,353 34.63 32.12 Total taxation .. 13,316,265 13 446,707 130,442 65.99 64.89 Interest 1,659,246 1,496,647 162,599* 56.62 57.25 Other receipts .. 2,382.951 1,135,81 1 2,247,140* 78.95 47.16 Total revenue .... .. 17,358,462 16,079,165 L279,2'97* 66.44 62.46 * Denotes decrease.