Estimate, 1872-73, £1,076,000; Estimate, 1871-72, £990,000; Actual, 1871-72, £1,007,414 14s. 4d. Customs Estimate, £45,000 over last year's receipts. Stamp Duties, £80,000.

The 2d. Eeceipt Stamp to be abolished.

Why proposed last year.

Postal Estimate, £3,000 Increase.

Land Registry Department.

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of REVENUE.

B.—No. 2.

The estimate of Customs Revenue shows an increase of £45,000 upon the receipts of last year; and when it is remembered how large a proportion of the year's Customs Revenue was received during the last six months, I think our present estimate will not be considered excessive. I have not any remarks to make upon the other items, until I come to that of Stamp Duties. I have again estimated those duties to yield £80,000, or £5,370 more than the receipts during the past year. I shall ask the Committee to consent to some remissions; but they will not, I believe, seriously affect the revenue. One of the remissions I intend to propose is the annual License Fee upon certain local Joint-Stock Companies for the promotion of industries and colonization; such as Meat-preserving Companies, Saw-mill Companies, Steamboat Companies, Tramway Companies, Immigration Companies, Public Hall Companies, and Fishery Companies. Another remission I shall submit to the House is that of the Stamps upon the cheques of Friendly Societies, and upon the receipts given to them for moneys which they disburse. I shall ask also for the remission of the duty on Conveyances of Land in Trust for Religious, Charitable, and Educational Purposes. The total of such remissions will not amount to more than a few hundred pounds. I shall further propose that the Stamp on Receipts be reduced to Id., leaving the amount upon which a stamp is required, as it stands at present. A general impression exists that the increase of this duty to 2d. last year has not materially aided the revenue, owing to the duty having been largely evaded and avoided. I am not able to express an opinion upon the point, seeing that there are no means of classifying or really knowing the purposes for which adhesive stamps have been used. lam inclined to think that there is some foundation for the impression I have mentioned. But I desire to remind honorable Members that the increased duty was only proposed for the purpose of making good the deficiency created by the rejection of the proposal that mortgage-deeds and bills of sale should be stamped. Notwithstanding these reductions —if reductions they are —we think that the natural increase of trade will this year bring the receipts on Stamp Duties up to £80,000. The Postal Revenue we estimate at £3,000 more than the receipts during last year. That increase, we think, can be relied upon, notwithstanding our intention to ask the House to approve of a Bill for the reduction of Postage on Newspapers to -|d. There is good reason for believing that such a reduction will not be followed by a reduction of revenue; since a large number of newspapers now sent in parcels by coach, without payment of postage, will in all probability, under the reduced stamp, be sent through the Post Office. The increased amount set down to be received in connection with the Land Registry Department, is in accordance with the estimate of the gentleman who so ably presides over this useful and remarkably successful Department. There is no necessity to comment upon any of the other items.

Proposed remissions.

■Jd. Postage on Newspapers proposed.

22

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

187: .-72. 1872-73. Heads of Receipt. Estimated. Actual. Estimated. Customs —Duties, Rents, Seizures, &c. ,, Bonded Stores ,, Fees, Marine Act, including Light Dues „ ,, Anns Act ... „ ,, Sundry Acts Stamp Duties Postal ... Telegraphic Judicial Fees and Fines Registration of Land „ Deeds ,, Births, Deaths, and Marriages Fees on issue of Crown Grants ,, Miscellaneous Incidental Receipts £ s. d. 750,000 0 0 4,500 0 0 6,000 0 0 1,580 0 0 1,785 0 0 80,000 0 0 45,000 0 0 28,000 0 0 33,000 0 0 5,000 0 0 15,000 0 0 2,750 0 0 10,000 0 0 2,590 0 0 4,795 0 0 £ s. d. 775,183 19 9 4,078 16 7 5,942 13 1 1,721 11 6 1,784 3 6 74,630 10 1 47,054 18 3 28,471 6 7 28,519 3 10 4,539 17 11 14,789 8 6 2,860 6 6 6,620 18 8 2,645 18 3 8,571 1 4 £ s. d. 820,000 0 0 4,250 0 0 I 10,000 0 0 80,000 0 0 50,000 0 0 33,000 0 0 32,000 0 0 9,000 0 0 13,500 0 0 3,000 0 0 8,500 0 0 2,750 0 0 10,000 0 0 Totals 990,000 0 0 1,007,414 14 4 1,076,000 0 0