Dominion Finances .

Southland Times, Issue 12120, 28 April 1908, Page 2

Dominion Finances .

RECORD REVENUE. NEARLY TEN MILLIONS. Per United Frees Association. WELLINGTON, April 27< Sir Josejih Ward, in tho course of a speech to-night, said that the financial position of the dominion was highly «atisfactory. The revenue for' the yO a r ended March 31st showed a record of £9,055,946. Other receipts that could not be called ordinary revenue amounted to £8043, making the total receipts lor tho year £9,063,989. At the beginning of the year they had brought forward £717,325. The expenditure amounted to £8,213,9135, leaving: an excess of receipts over expenditure of £859,024. Thus the Government had a total of ways and means for last year amounting to £1 567,849. They had transferred from the consolidated fund to the public works fund £BOO,OOO, and that left a balance at tho end of tho year of £767,649 to commence tho new year with. The revenue for the year just closed exceeded that of the previous year by £656,871. There wera increases in all sources of revenue but the Customs revenue showed an increase of £162,525. There had been an Increase of £185,207 in Post and. Telegraph receipts, and an advance of £90,504 in land tax received. The effect of the Increased taxation on estates of over £40,000 was not very much felt in this year’s revenue. Income tax showed an Increase of £27,033 ; beer duty had increased £6391, railways £143,999, registrallon, etc., £0722, marine £1326, cash land sales £7924, and pastoral rents £30,985. Miscellaneous revenue showed a fall of £8143. Comparing the total revenue with that of two years ago, if had risen by £1,4 71,587 (applause). There had been no booming, it was simply tHht the people of the dominion were making a steady growth and expansion in their trades, and there w a a a spirit of confidence widespread and diffused.