South Canterbury Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1886.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4210, 11 October 1886, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1886.

The Colonial Treasurer the other day informed the colony, through a telegram sent to the Dnnedin Chamber of Commerce, that the receipts from the Customs duties had not realised by £57,000 the amount put down in the estimates. Whatever may be the reason of this, it certainly places the colony in an awkward position, and although Sir Julius Vogel takes a sanguine view of the situation and hazards the opinion that the falling off during the next six months will not be so great, we have our doubts as to whether this will turn out to be correct. But even if this should be so, the deficit of £57,000 will be a serious matter and we fear that to make it up the already too heavily burdened people of New Zealand will have to submit to further taxation. The reasons given by the Treasurer for this falling off in the Customs are—“ The reduced Customs duties are largely due to less expenditure on spirits and the lower entry value of goods subject to ad valorem duties and there can be little question that this is correct. From a moral point of view, the colony derives a benefit from the reduction in the consumption of alcoholic spirits, and most people will consider that It is worth making some pecuniary sacrifice for this. The majority also obtain an advantage from the redaction of the ad valorem duties, as it means that it has been possible to purchase goods at a cheaper rate in Hew Zealand than has been tbe case heretofore. Still, it must be remembered, that the deficit, which, Sir Julias Vogel’s opinion notwithstanding, is likely to be considerably increased during the next .six months, will have to be met somehow. Money must be foand to carry on tbe business of tbe Colony, and if it is not to bo procured by indirect taxation, it most be obtained in some other way. Baring last session, tbe Government stated distinctly that a saving would be but when we find tbe estimates upon which future expenditure was to be based, to bo so far out that upon a single source o{ revenue there is a loss in six months cf £57,000, we may well experience a doubt as to tbe possibility of fulfilling this promise. In making the state of affairs known iims early,‘Sir Julius Vogel evidently wishes to prepare the public for what must inevitably come, namely an increase in .our taxation. This is not a pleasant prospect wa admit, but It is impossible to see how i it can be avoided. Scarcity of money may account for the increase of temperance and economy in New Zealand, bat such habits once acquired and the benefits accruing from them understood they are not likely to be abandoned.. The Treasurer is undoubtedly an able financier, but when &e framed bis estimates, be failed to take into consideration the effect the improved morals of the colony would have on the revenue. In future the keeper of tbe colonial parse wiil have to recognise the value of this important factor, And perhaps tbe people will pay their taxes more cheerfully when they realise that the falling off in tbe revenue is in a great measure caused by the spread of temperance in New Zealand.