ACCOUNTS FOR HALF-YEAR.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18332, 2 November 1931, Page 1

ACCOUNTS FOR HALF-YEAR.

r: Jir ~n ' rN -"" THE MINISTER'S 'STATEMENT. ■■/,' .'■',••.'. ~ . (By Telegraph.—Press Association) _ WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. Public accounts for the first half of this financial year were published on Saturday in a supplementary gazette.' .Commenting on the figures the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Downie Stewart, said the revenue of the Consolidated Fund for the period amounted to £7,347,379, as compared-': with £9,057,880 for the same period last year a decrease of £1,710,501. However, this considerable shrinkage of revenue was provided for in the Budget and the decrease' does not indicate the financial position for the year. The taxation receipts totalled £5,560,814 being £65,000 behind the estimate. Stamp and death duties revenue are about £500,000 behind that of the corresponding period of .last year, but the'revenue from motor vehicles duties and licences slightly exceeded that of 1930, while receipts of beer duty and film hire tax are in accord with the, estimates. The expenditure for the six months totalled £11,463,795, as compared with £12,237,467 for the same period last year. In conclusion the' Minister says expenditure in general is being kept within the estimates but the position in regard to revenue, particularly in regard to customs, stamp and death duties, is still somewhat uncertain, though the improved oeo nomie outlook gives some grounds for the hope that it may come up to the Government's amended expectations.