THE COUNTRY’S FINANCES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 48, 21 February 1912, Page 6

THE COUNTRY’S FINANCES.

ESTIMATED SURPLUS £769,957. iPer Press Association.) Wellington, February 20. The Premier to-day laid on the table of the House a statement of the financial position of the Dominion from March 31st last to January 31. The revenue under various heads was £8,718,06-1. The actual expenditure for the ten months was £8,060,995. The Premier estimates the revenue for the unexpired two months of the financial year at £2,305,264 and the expenditure at £2,278,859. For the whole year the revenue will be £ll,023,328, and the expenditure £10,339,831,' a surplus of revenue oyer expenditure of £683,474. To this , should be added the balance on March 31, 1911, namely, £586,483, less £500,000 to be transferred to the public works account during the present year, leaving an estimated surplus at March 31 of £769,957. Referring to the increase of revenue, the statement says the continual increase in the revenue of the country is most gratifying, affording proof of the Dominion’s remarkable prosperity and financial strength.' On March 31, 1911, the available ways and means for public works purposes were £1,140,045, and (excluding moneys obtained from the redemption of maturing loans) ~ additional funds have been received ,as under: Under the Aid to Public , Works and Land Act, JL9IO ? ( £181,650; under the Aid*W I 'Public' Works and Land Settlement Act, 1911, £350,900; transfer Jmtn, ..Consolidated .Fund,. £250,000; miscellaneous receipts, £6,265; making, a, total. for the,, ten months of nsfer will be made from 'the consolidated fund of £250,000, making the gross total available for the year 1911-12, £2,177,960. The expenditure under appropriations for the ten months .(excluding separate accounts having ways and means of their own) was £1,452,647, and a further expenditure of £666,070 is estim^|^ of. the year, Itjgvipjg. /balance on March 31 next of £59,243;To this will have to be added the balance of the 1911 loan yet to be raised, £1,150,000, and authorised loan under the Aid to Water-power Works Act, 1910, £500,000, a total of £1,650,000, making an estimated total available for next year of £1,709,243.