Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 16716, 24 April 1918, Page 4

The Government Inspector for Fixe Brigades in Is’ew Zealand (Mr T. Hugo) is at present making one of his periodical visits of inspection to the Otago ami Southland districts. Mr Hugo inspected the Dunedin City Fir's Brigade on Monday evening, and journeyed to Soaeliff yesterday, where he inspected the brigade and asylum buildings. He returned to Dunedin to-day, and wall visit the Momirxgton and Roslyn Brigades to-night. While in Dunedin Mr Hugo will also make the customary inspection of the various large buildings and warehouses of the Oitv.

The supreme test —that which stands, first and foro-

THe Supreme Test, most, above every other, and which will finally decide the issues of the present world conflict—is the chairacter of the people - of the nations engaged. But there are secondary and subsidiary tests, the greatest of which are wealth and the ability of the several communities to bear the unparalleled burden that is being placed upon them. Had them over been any intelligent doubt to the contrary, what is called “the stupendous Budget” submitted to a full House of Commons by tho Chancellor ■of the Exchequer (Mr Bonar Law) is more than sufficient proof. The figures with which the Chancellor deals are so huge as to excel the average limit of comprehension. It is practically impossible for tho ordinary individual, without thoughtful study, to follow all that is 'implied and meant bv a Budget which deals with hundreds and thousands of millions. The time was (and that less than, five years ago) when the British Press and large sections of their readers spoke in alarmist tones of a Budget that asked for 200 millions, while its author (Mr Lloyd George) was referred to as a menace to the community, and a speech that ho made at or al>ont that time at Limeliouso —in •'which not one argument was used ' that ho had not frovkmsly utilised upon the floor of the House of Commons—was generally regarded by the privileged classes, and those who took their principles and politics irom them, as tho no plus ultra of political spoliation and infamy! To-day Mr Lloyd George’s successor at tho Exchequer introduces a Budget that necessitates a revenue of £842,000,000, with the almost certain prospect Hurt before tho nation is safely out of tho sanguinary maelstrom into which less than a score of men with satanic cynicism plunged a pleasure-loving but innocent world, the amount needed will be £900.000.000 per annum. More startling. perhaps, is tho further information that the House and country have received this “ stupendous Budget ” with remarkable sangfroid, and that great and small payers alike recognise that one of the supremo tests of ultimate victory is the nation’s ability to meet tho fresh financial demands that arc made upon it.

To attempt to bear in mind even such details as aro permitted us would bo a profitless task. Nor is it essential to do so. The fact of supreme importance is the Mother Land's ability to meet the strain she is now called on to bear and will bo further put upon her in the near future. Her ability to do so is made aovindantly clear. She can contemplate with calmness new taxation proposals, estimated to produce £114,000,000 additional to the hundreds of millions raised daring the year recently ended, a sum which of itself is equivalent to 60 per cent, of the whole of the taxation imposed for the financial pear immediately preceding the war. After deducting all allied and Dominion loans, the National Debt of the Motherland at the end of March, 1918, was noarly £2,000,000,000. The interest upon this staggering sum and the daily estimated cost of the war (6£ millions), in addition to the cost of government, are being borne by the people without murmur. Such figures-- 80 huge as to be almost meaningless save to experts —are, in Mr Bonar Law's words, “ an amazing testimony to the country’s financial spirit.” The Empire has cause for just pride that the management of its finances is in the hands of men of long experience, high character, and unblemished reputation, who have stood the well-nigh superhuman strain of the past years. If our financial case,” declared Mr Dollar Law, “ were the same os that of Germany we would not be far from bankruptcy ” ; and Germany knows that his words are absolutely true. Nations that set out to conquer the world must take these tremendous risks. “ Victory or Bankruptcy” has for long been inscribed upon the banners of the Hun, but the fact is not proclaimed to the four winds. One finds it in the utterances of PauGormans and in the fearsome admissions of alarmed professors. “’Germany must win, and wo must have indemnities, because if we do not we shall be ruined.” Tins is the insistent cry; and its logic is in with its morality. Germany has yet much to learn, but she is learning her lesson swiftly and surely. To t!ie increase of her,.knowledge, there can be low sharper stimulants than the terms in which the latest British Budget was presented to the House of Commons and to the Empire.