CUSTOMS RETURNS SHOW BIG DROP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 1 April 1931, Page 7

CUSTOMS RETURNS SHOW BIG DROP.

IMPORTS RESTRICTED BY RATES OF EXCHANGE. Customs revenue collected at Christchurch for the quarter ended yesterday, shows a shrinkage of £97,193 13s 3d, compared with the total for the corresponding period of last 3*ear. The substantial drop is the effect of the new exchange rates and the increased tariff dues, which have restricted imports. The figures in regard to exports reflect an improved position. Despite the reduction of one farthing per carcase, the meat export levy returned £2035 11s lOd during the last quarter as compared with £1933 8s 5d for the corresponding period of last year. The dairy produce export levy returned £285 8s lOd as compared with £l7O 3s 6d. Beer duty fell below the return for the first quarter in 1930 by approximately £3OOO, but the petrol tax and tyre duty revenue for the last quarter greatly exceeded the returns for the corresponding period of last year. The following table gives a comparison of the returns for the first quarter in 1931 with those of the first quarter in 1930.

WELLINGTON RETURNS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 31. Customs revenue collected at Wellington for the financial year, ended March 31, totalled £2,919,698 compared with £3,181,579 for the preceding year, a decrease of £261,881. The revenue for March was £241,539 compared with £279,930 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of £38,091. The first quarter showed an increase over that of the preceding year, but imports then declined and the last three quarters show a heavy drop. The duty collected on motor spirit last month was £45,125 against £30,578 in March of last year, an increase of £14,547. For the financial year the figures are £480,014 and £376,961, respectively, an increase of £103,053. Collections of tyre tax last month totalled £1594, against £2366 for March 1930, a decrease of £772 and the figures for the year are £37,668 against £45,914 for the preceding year, a decrease of £8246. Beer excise collections for March were £5860. against £5196. an increase of £373. For the vear the total was £55.481 against £56.006 for the previous year, a decrease of £612.

1931 £ s d 1930 £ s d Meat ... 2,035 11 10 1,933 8 5 Iloney 6 3 1 9 7 Dairy 285 8 10 170 3 6 Beer ... 18,083 10 G 21,075 9 10 Petrol ... 57,351 19 3 39,823 10 11 Tyre 5.204 13 9 3.618 3 11 Customs .. 1 $8,742 1 4 285,935 14 7 March Returns. The following table gives a comparison of the returns for March, 1931 \v th those of March, 1930: Mar. 1931. Mar 1930. £ s d £ s d Meat S33 1 0 917 13 3 Honey . . 11 10 Dairy 64 16 2 IS / 5 Beer .. 7,403 1 5 7.284 5 1 Petrol ... 19,636 16 11 15,441 7 0 Tyre 746 2 0 1.125 3 0 Customs .. 60.SS9 15 6 99,302 14 10