THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS. NELSON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1878. THE REVENUE.

Colonist, Volume XX, Issue 2342, 29 January 1878, Page 3

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS. NELSON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1878. THE REVENUE.

After depression has continued to prevail for a considerable length of time, there is something cheering in even the first faint indications that there is a turning of the tide. Still, when the revenue does begin to Improve a little, misgivings will exist that the slight change is owing to some accidental cause; to the replenishment of stocks, for instance, that had been overdone in the flush of prosperity, and that afterwards the careful dealers' apprehensions had Buffered to become toolow. When, however, several quarters in succession all show larger receipts than in the corresponding periods of the previous year, it is surely not too much to hope that the worst is past, and that the elasticity _ of the Colony's resources has overcome, in some ■degree, the enormous pressure imposed by ihasty and mismanaged expenditure. In the ■first three months of 1877 the Customs revenue fell £19,705 as compared with the flame period in 1876, this being, unfortumately, no more than a continuance of a downward tendency, the most alarming feature of which was that it was caused largely toy less dutieß being paid on articles of daily ■consumption by every class. The next ■quarter improved by £12,053, and it is worth noting that while tobacco and tea were more used, the semi-luxuries—spirits, wine, and ale—still fell. Then came a rise of £5662, and the quarter ended 3lßt December yielded more by £8661, the whole year being £6674 better than 1876. So far then it would appear that ;the ■pending power of the Colony as a whole is a little greater, though not yeb equal to what it was two years since. This is not all that should be considered. It is perfectly clear, that taking into account the very large additions to population during that period, the average outlay of each person is less, or in other words, that the comforts of those households dependent on the wages of their beads are reduced, because many are either unable to obtain full employment, or are •compelled by competition to do the same work for less money. It is the working man's home that ihas suffered, for nowhere -else is there cut off any portion of the •ordinary supplies, say of tea, or sugar. The question must be answered, by what right 6o our legislators and ministers persist in borrowing to pay for the importation of labor, when it is beyond dispute that not a few of those already in the Colony have to endure privations on account of their nnmbers being too great for what there is to do ? It is idle to tell the sufferers in one place that there is plenty of room in others, when the total return proves the pressure to have been universal, and even now too severe to warrant the increase of the burdens of the people, actually to leßeea their earnings. «Cold-hearted arithmeticians, who have never known what it is to want a full meal, prove to their own satisfaction that every person introduced must contribute a certain sum to the consolidated fund, and that the deficit will jin this way be certainly supplied. Hunger turns a deaf ear to their plausible, and at the same time utterly false calculations, asking bow the revenue is to be swelled hy men often in doubt where to find their J children's daily bread. During the quarter that ended with last year, spirits contributed £2062 more; tobacco, snufij &c, £3141; wine, ale, and beer, £503; tea, coffee, &c, £1733 ; and •ugar, £2112, makiDg a total improvement in the duties from these items of £9551. Goods by weight were better by £1358, and miscellaneous by £1177, while the ad valorem duties fell £3376, and opium yielded £46 less. The balance to the good is by no means large, not indeed whac the ordinary growth of population should produce, but it is welcome as affording hope for the future, and because those articles that minister to domestic enjoyment are chiefly to be credited with the rise. Happily also, the improvement is widely spread, the only district that shows any considerable decline j being Westland, Greymouth giving £1492 and Hokitika £5587 less. Auckland, that bo long seemed sinking, just exceeds the j level of the same quarter of last year, though the lesser ports somewhat more than counterbalance the increase. New Plymouth and "Wanganui show signs of mending, while Wellington, that for a time appeared as though its wonderful progress was arrested, springs again with no less than £9146; JNapier once more rising, this time by £1477. Nelson was almost the last port to show a fall, no perhaps it is to be expected that the reaction will not be early. However, the £~ increase of £230 is so much for the 'better. Westport at last improves with its railway works, but only by £320. The ports taken together rise £1489, 4|nd those of Otago £2880. It will be seen 4hat it is thisl time the settled districts of the Colony that yield better, not as before that the most is from the goldfielde. This branch of industry has undoubtedly given in time past a great impetus, though rapidly altering both in amount and locality. There it still much to be obtained in this way, bub it is obvious that the agricultural and pastoral interests alone can have a permanent influence. The new Ministry are fortunate in the change occurring in their time, True as it ia that Governments as a rule can do little to affect a nation's prosperity, there is

much both to be done and avoided by Ministers in our present state. They may depress those they profess to be anxious to Berve by pursuing the old foolish course of adding to the supply of labor before employ, in ant is ready, or by timely care they may avoid adding to our debts,, and permit all classes once more to taete prosperity.