Shburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY JUNE 10, 1893. THE REVENUE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2996, 10 June 1893, Page 2

Shburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY JUNE 10, 1893. THE REVENUE.

It ts saddening to mark the steady decrease of the Victorian revenue which each return that reaches us shows. A falling off is recorded iv every department of the customs, and a decrease in railway traffic and the consequent shrinkage in income therefrom, while trade generally is languid, manufactures almost stagnant, work painfully scarce, and remuneration for what is available dovn to a minimum. Our revenue, on the other hand is steadily increasing. Last month the customs returns showed £140,868, or £17,000 more than the month before, and £10,000 more than was collected Id May of 1892. This is eminently '

satisfactory and shows that the colony is steadily progressing, and that 1 material prosperity is flowing in upon in. Sir Julius Vogel prophesied that the colony would advance by leaps and bounds. This kangaroo-like progression has not been realised, but we are realising whafcis better—a prosperity arising from steady industry on the ' part of our settlers, frusality that enables them to keep within their means, and as their wants increase to increase also their means of supplying them. Marvellous Melbourne prospered and grew like Jonah's gourd, but the prosperity faded away as the gourd did, and when the period of inflation was over the terrible season of depression followed that the Victorian colony is now experiencing. Her population is dwindling, for her best people, her industrious artizans and agricultural people who have been wise enough to save a little means, are leaving her shores as opportunity offers. Settlement on her land has almost ceased, and her markets are failing to afford a profitable outlet for much of what she produces. In contrast with this, the population of itf* Zealand is being daily added to atll her people are steadily finding room upon the land. Thus while the mouths to be filled are increasing the wherewithal to fill them is also being produced, with something over to sell in the outside markets. And profitable markets exist for much of the produce of our soil. We could wish to see a better price for our grain, and a higher return for wool, but the farmer could hardly expect to obtain better returns for his meat than he has been receiving of late. The colony seems to have entered upon a new term of prosperity, and although it may take sometime for that prosperity to favorably affect all classes, its continuance muse inevitably have the result of favorably influencing all departments of trade and commerce, and so build up a reserve of material wealth against the reverses of fortune that all are liable to, but which the frugal and industrious feel far less keenly than the extravagant and the reckless. The prospects are bright and encouraging, and we trust we are very near that period when the prosperity which the colony is enjoying will be abundantly felt in every department of trade.