FIJI'S BUDGET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 253, 26 October 1931, Page 2

FIJI'S BUDGET.

NO: SALARY REDUCTIONS.

PUBLIC STROKGLiY (CRITICAL.

PROSPECTIVE DEFICIT, £44,763

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SUVA, October 17.

His Excellency the Governor read his address on the Budget at the opening of the Legislative Council in the presence of a crowded chamber. Never before has such interest been shown in the finances of the colony. This was largely due to the fact that the colony was known to be going do'wn 'hill for sonic time. The public realised that the Government must definitely reduce expenditure and it has been pressed for some time to reduce salaries by 20 per cent. All the business companies and tne Suva municipality have done this, or have given notice of doing it on January 1. His • Excellency, however, very definitely stated that while others might reduce salaries the Government officials could not be expected to have any reduction, although he acknowledged that the cost of living was down.' His Excellency contrasted Government and private employment, saying that a private employee .takes the rough with the smooth, and weighs the chances of rising to wealth or falling .to poverty, while the civil servant selects the certain prospect of a modest competency and a secured position, and so takes a life contract which gives him these things, and in return denies him the hope of any large share.in the world's material benefits. This argument fails j to convince those who are clamouring i for salary reductions. They point out j that Government clerks in Fiji receive in most cases. £400 to £600 a year, and the prospect of a living pension, without paying into any superannuation fund.' They say that every other class of the community is bearing a share of the burden except the civil servant. Only ordinary clerk retired with a life p<fifsJh of £4 0° a vear - Tue public, knowing .these things, cannot appreciate any refusal to help to balance the Budget. l ,-. '-. i j

The Governor gave some figures to show the position of the finances. He said that the colony came through 1930 in better shape than had been anticipated, and the deficit was only £6500, but the disastrous hurricanes and floods this year caused widespread damage. A year ago Jhe estimated the revenue for 1931 at £603,689, and expenditure at £622,541,Tdefict £18,852. The revised figures Were: —Revenue £557,424, expenditure. £606,302, deficit £48,378. The surplus at the- i end of the year would be reduced to • £138,842. The approved expenditure for 1931 was £588,541. The estimated revenue for 1932 is £54*3,778, and the difference between these two was £44,763. He asked the House to discuss the best means of wiping out this deficit arid so balancing the Budget. , The economies proposed include the retirement .on pensions of several officials, the discontinuance of the sub-, sidy of £7500 yearly to Burns, Philp and Co. for inter-island steamship service, an all-round reduction in the maintenance of roads and bridges,, and" a reduction* in labour costs.

Already one meeting of protest has been held at Nausori..'. ■ It-was -crowded, and both elected members of the-council spoke, opposing the policy proposed by the Government. The "Fiji Times and Herald" vigorously opposes the Government's refusal to reduce salaries and suggests that if-it does not recant steps will be taken to make representations in another quarter. * ...