AUSTRALIAN TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 20905, 23 September 1931, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN TOPICS

ECONOMY PRESSURE

SYDNI'.-, September 10. Macaulay thought there was nothing so funny as the British public in one of its periodic fits of morality. But that poetic pundit never saw Australian politicians in one of their rare fits of enforced economy. When first the alarm boll soundo throughout the nation for less extravagant administrations tho politicians stoutly declared that estimates had already been cut to tho bone. Failure of one State Government to pay its own Civil servants hinted that further cuts wore needed. So when a 20 per cent, reduction in Civil Service salaries was at Jong last carried out there was a groat self-congratulatory clmer from the Governments concerned; Hooray, we’ve slain tho depression dragon.” Now these superficial souls arc finding that tho dragon is alive and kicking to some purpose. instead of slaying that monster, tho 20 per cent, cut has only snipped off some of his fins. What tho politicians overlooked was the nasty fact that, whi' salaries wore,being reduced rovemu ' were also falling. One might think even politicians would have foreseen such a connection. But they arc cheery, hand-shaking, slap-on-tho’-hack chaps—those lawmakers of ours. They arc oven trying to lookcheery at the Premiers’ Conference called to revise—again—the several Budgets. When this conference met last Juno it estimated the current vear’s aggregate deficit at £14,651,000. Now, on account of those unkindly “ falling revenues,” tho total deficit mav bo £18,120,000—£3,470,000 worse than these cheery Premiers previously said it would he. But, as one politician remarked on an historic occasion. “ What’s a million!” Faced with this extra deficit, tho first thought of the politicians was to wring more revenue from tho citizens —despite the proven fr ; that every increase lately in taxation rates moans less taxation, ex-

tortccl. When that short-cut proved a blind alloy the Premier rushed into the other handy highway known as the banks. J minodiatclv. if not sooner, they must have from "the banks enough millions to make up the newly-discovered deficit, besides some £7,000,000 to keep the public works programme going. It’s a way they have in Australia and elsewhere.' Put fortunately the banks —particularly the hoard of the Commonwealth flank—have bluntly told the Premiers that they can only have an additional million for unforeseen deficits, and another million for public works. The politicians are heartbroken. What are banks for but to provide funds for Government extravagance Hut somehow the banks cannot sec it like that. So the politicians are forced back to the conclusion that they must tackle with still more determination the unpleasant Cask cutting administrative costs. In fact, the 20 per cent, cub in Civil service salaries is not the end of the matter, it is only the beginning. Wages will have to come down much further. Departmonts that have grown like the green bay tree will have to he severely pruned, mid in some cases uprooted altogether. Taxation can bo exploited no iurthor. The banks cannot any more millions out of tlnu air. Ijio two millions just promised for deficits and public works arc actually a foim of inflation, informally, revenue raised later in the official year would cancel them. Hut at present there is no anticipated revenue for that purpose. Politicians blame the banks for most !of their troubles. It goes down with ! Hie mob. The hanks are the bulwarks of the “ bloodsuckers.” Hut these I hanks in Australia have already adj vanccd £G.‘i,ooo.ol)o to the several i Governments. When the advance of | £1(1,000,000 lor the current year is I added to that amount it will ho seen how the banks have really aided the politicians. Hut the hanks will long continue the butt of curses from the hustings and from the floors of the Parliamentary Houses. Xaturallv. Australia looks with sympathetic eye at New Zealand’s effort ( to recast her Hudget—and with eiu.\ 1 at the way the throe political parties in the dominion atrroc to consult an expert committee in order to find a national poliev of financial recovoii. In Australia 'class strife and party jealousies arc too pronounced for any real political co-operation. The strong and ambitions Country Party is planning in some States to out loose from its allied Nationalist Party. And, of course, Labour ploughs its lone furrow, being at the moment even at enmity with its former comrade, the Communist Partv. Any uniting of parties in Australia, is therefore a surface fusion for facing an urgent need. At nnv moment the underground rumblings may quake upwards and jolt the parties further than ever apart. I AUSTRALIA DAY. The Australian Natives’ Association (not the aborigines) is a vigilant, patriotic body. Hut some citizens doubt 1 the wisdom of the latest reform it Ims forced through tho Now South Wales Parliament to change that State s “Anniversary Day” to “Australia Day.” On January 22, 1788, Captain Phillip first brought his three exploratory cutters from Hotany Hay (south of Sydney’s present site) into the “boat harbour ” which Captain Cook had previously noted fn ids log, and which is now known to the world as Port Jackson. Next day, while making a systematic search of this harbour, Phillip 1 found flic ideal site for a settlement, with a fresh creek trickling into a sheltered cove. Thero and then lie decided I that it should he the location of what has since grown into the city of Sydney. New Zealand is interested in this matter, for it was after his erniso .'long the New Zealand coast that Cook sighted the eastern side of Australia, , and logged the “boat harbour ” already referred to. Anniversary Day—or, as it will in future lie called, Australia Day—marks the official beginning of British rule in this part of the southern hemisphere. CHURCH AND STAGE. i Sydney is amused over a. little controversy as to the wisdom of tho church consorting with the"stage. A city fane is figuring a Sunday cinema service—with such “ uplift ” films as ‘ Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’ And Sydney’s Y.W.C.A. is to singe a. Miracle Play inside tho historic Church of St. James—once a convict house of worship, now a fashionable “ high ” church. Hut, after all, tho stage is the daughter—wayward daughter, perhaps—of the church. Miraclo plays dealing with dramatic incidents in tho lives of tho saints were originally acted before tho altar. Growaudiences drove them into tho roomier theatre of Uio churchyard. And from there they drifted to street-corner “ stations,” and into the less saintly yards of handy taverns.