A GROWING BUDGET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 227, 25 September 1935, Page 6

A GROWING BUDGET.

Commonwealth surpluses and State deficits seem to have become almost a habit in Australia. In tho Budget tabled at Canberra this week the Federal Government has again shown a comfortable margin of revenue over expenditure, and has expanded its estimates for tho current year by no less than Ave millions. It is this strength at tho centre that is such a sore point with the six States, and particularly with the weaker ones. They feel that there must be something radically wrong with a system of Government finance which fills one Treasury to overflowing while all the others are compelled to go short. The Commonwealth has had surpluses for four years in succession, and this after making concessions in taxation which approach £10,000,000. In the same four years the State Governments have been struggling towards a balance, firstly by drastic economies under the Premiers' plan, and later by keeping' a tight rein on expenditure while revenue has risen. To the outside observer the recent record of the Commonwealth in finance cannot fail to be impressive. Tax remissions and exemptions, concessions in charges, the restoration of salaries to civil servants, which 'is now extended, and the reduction in the number of the unemployed by nearly half in three yenrs—these are features of the Australian situation which point to a widespread and substantial improvement. In a comparison with New Zealand it would be necessary, of course, to bring the States into tho picture, and it might be found that this Dominion has suffered less financially than Australia in these years of unprecedented stress, but this does not detract from the performance of the Commonwealth Government.