GIANT DEFICIT

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 5

GIANT DEFICIT

SHORTAGE OF £312,000,000. DEPARTMENT EXTRAVAGANCE INDIGNATION IN BRITAIN. < tßy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, October 20. The re-assembly of Parliament on Wednesday focusses attention on the s deplorable financial outlook of the first r six months of the financial year, show- r ing a. deficit exceeding £312,000,000. The t Government will be bombarded with I ' questions relating to retrenchment. A ' large number have already been tabled. J The reply of Mr. Austen Chamberlain, ; Chancellor of the Exchequer, to several £ questions, asking whether he intends to 1 introduce a supplementary Budget, is awaited with keen interest, particularly in view of the strong objections to the proposal expressed by business and trading interests. i It is understood that Mr. Lloyd George will readily respond to the demand for ] a debate on the whole question of econ- ' omy, and also that he intends to promise j ■ a speedy return to the constitutional ' I system by which the Cabinet controls expenditure. It is generally admitted that the Government's position has been greatly j i strengthened during the recess owing < Ito its firm handling of the railway strike, but members returning from their eon- I stituencies are deeply impressed by the ! ! widespread indignation over the failure; to check Departmental extravagance. ! ■ The autumn sitting promises a record : number of highly-controversial Govern- , ment bills dealing with the constitution of the Joint Industrial Council, rnaxi- . mum hours of einnlovnienl. the State , purchase if mineral rights, the prevention of dumping, and the protection of i key industries and others, while the , urgent necessity of settling the Trish problem give* an nddit i<>nnl prospect of .a lively session.—(A. nn.l X.Z. Cable.) j ■ ——