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Star (Christchurch), Issue 99, 7 September 1868, Page 2

To the Budget speech delivered by Mr Hall, in the House of Representatives, several very useful aud suggestive tables are appended. One of these gives the amount of revenue received from stamp duties in the several provinces during the financial year 1867-8. Now, we ask our readers to bear in mind that these stamp duties are really a war tax — nothing more or less than that. following summary from the table alluded to shows what each province has paid in stamp duties, omitting shillings aud pence : — £ Auckland .... 7,073 Tiininaki .... 660 Wellington 6,343 Haw he's Bay . . . 1,459 Nelson 5,509 Marlborough . . . 591 Canterbury . . . 13,929 Westland . . . 1,961 Otago 18,726 Southland .... 2,143 If we examine the above, it will be found that of the total sum collected, about £58,005, the Middle Island contributes £42,864, or three fourths. It is almost unnecessary to add any comjnent to tills fact, but we may point out what may not be apparent at first sight, namely, that if an income arid property tax were imposed, as Mr Stafford ctesires, the Middle Island would contribute considerably more than three-fourths oTTjT^ji This clearly follows from the proportion shown in the stamp duties. Our readers will do well to consider these two facts.