N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 185, 3 May 1933, Page 8

N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

State Premier Emphasises Need for Reform PUTTING COUNTRY RIGHT "Unless we improve the form and character of the institution by which we govern ourselves, we run a tremendous risk of destroying our hances of putting this country right,” said Mr. B. S. B. Stevens, Premier of New South Wales, speaking at Blayney a few days ago in support of a “yes” ote nt the Upper House referendum. "Our one aim,” he said, "is to put the country right, to put all production, primary aud secondary, back on a basis of profit. Give them money to spend, and it will soon circulate, and people will get employment. “My predecessor worked on the principle ' that you can put the country right by extorting heavy taxes. He tried to get £10,090,000 from tlie insurance companies and the banks, and also tried to get money by raising taxes by 25 per cent, on men’s earnings. “He stated that lie could relieve unemployment by those means, but lie was wrong, and to-day there is a definite appreciation, In all parts of the State, that the only way to help the country is to reduce the burdens that press on your industries, and thus help your producers back to the days when they could make a profit. “If you tax them too heavily you will kill them, and, at the same time, you will kill us all. Our ability to employ in this country depends upon our ability to maintain a production of something like £120,000,000 a year. “You cannot do that unless you tackle the problem at its base,” he added. “Since we have been in power, we have reduced railway freights on all forms of primary produce; we have reduced train fares, tram fares, Crown rental, and all forms of Government charges.”