A TREASURER MOURNS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 141, 14 June 1918, Page 5

A TREASURER MOURNS

(FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

, : SYDNEY, sth June. Twelve months ago the State.of New South Wales recorded a deficit; and, ha-ving made the usual excuses and explanations for this inexcusable and lamentable state of affairs, it plunged itself into the customary condition of profound gloom and looked around for new sources of revenue. The totalisator, became, for the harassed and scheming Treasurer, an inspiration and a goal. Racing clubs were ordered to establish it right away, and the Treasurer decided that he would collect from it at least £150,000. The financial year is now closing, and the totalisator has produced £80,000. This is typical of New South Wales finance. '

The State Treasurer, twelve months ago, bursting with good .resolutions, said that this year there would be no deficit. The period of taking stock is at hand, and the Treasurer descries, in a maze of figures, the ugly shape of a deficit of half-a-million taking shape. It may be camouflaged a bit before it is fully blown; but iit is going to be a large and healthy deficit jusl the same. The Treasurer sees that he cannot cover up its comfortable proportions, and so he has gone publicly intb mourning. There is always some sort of excuse available for a deficit, Bomehow. The Treasurer says that the war was responsible" for a decrease of £100,000 in stamp duties; the big strike for a loss of £200,000 generally; while the affection of the public for the bookmaker has kept the bettors away from the totalisator, and the revenue has fallen short. The poor taxpayer, seeing on all sides, evidence of Government extravagance, the multiplication of Government offices, the utter inability of Government officials to understand the meaning of economy, appreciates the futility of such explanations, but must suffer in silence. Politics must not be interfered with.

The Treasurer's latest proposal is that the income-tax exemption must not be lowered. Income-tax already in this country comes at one in a harassing manner from two sides—State and Federal— and the cost of the war makes big Federal increases certain: If political muddling and parish-pump administration are going to cause an increase in the State tax also, the growing movement in favour of the abolition of the States altogether will receive a great stimulus.