FISHING FOR FINANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 July 1920, Page 5

FISHING FOR FINANCE

THE BUDGET.

NO SENSATIONS.

PREMIER'S POINTS

(Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Financial Statement, to be presented by Mr Massey"' tonight, will contain no sensations, but will indicate how the Treasurer has had to strive to keep taxation within its present limit, in lace of heavy increasing responsibilities. . Mr Ma ssey has been able to do so only because last year’s taxation produced a surplus of £2,300,000, while it is intended to make the Railways and Post and Telegraph 'Departments produce more revenue to meet their extra obligations in salaries and the higher cost of materials. The postal increases have been announced. He will be unable to detail the alterations in railway fares and freights as tariff revision is incomplete, but the extent of the rise may be ganged from the Budget announcement that the Railway and Post and Telegraph Departments are * expected to produce one million extra revenue from increased charges. This will be more than absorbed by the increases in salaries, but the Finance Minister will provide some hope of a future reduction in this ’ ■digaiion by stating that legislation will be introduced, under winch the cost of living increments of the whole of the Public Service will be snlrpct to revision in accordance with the cost of living statistics. As the increases involve the whole oc the Public Service, the total cost exceeds two millions.l

Though the sum total of taxation will not be enlarged, the Budget will show the intention to revise the incidence of the land tax and deatli duties. The latter will be on a higher scale, while the alterations to the.laud Tax will demonstrate the intention to remove anomalies and aim at larger estates.

There ds to he a Loan Bill for about eight millions, mainly intended for soldier settlement, and the rate of interest has been increased to the extent of a half per cent., and the Finance Minister anticipates no difficulty in raising this sum in Yew Zealand on these terns, despite the higher rates elsewhere.

Income tax, with super lax, also Customs duties, are maintained, but the Budget indications are to refer those and othe v faction matters to a Snecial Select Committee of the House, under Mr Downie Stewart’s chairmanship, with instructions to thoronQ'hly investigate the incidence of taxation, with a view io recommending a more adequate stand, shows no reduction, bn fine adjustment. The Defence vote,. I nnderBndget announces He intention to ask Hie "Defence committee to co-operate with the Minister and departmental heads in the future territorial policy, which is not yet completed, nor is the Government readv with the final draft of its naval policy. Probably it is awaiting the arrival of Lord Jellicoe However, the Budget makes an important announcement, indicating the departure from the former Imperial subsidy, system, £250,000 being appropriated for naval defence in Yew Zealand.

The Finance Minister reaffirms hi, 3 intention to vigorously encourage immigration as an essential part of the public works’ development, but the details of the Public Works policy have been reserved for the Public Works’ Statement. The Education vote has grown to three millions, including£2,2so,ooo for salaries, administration, maintenance of schools. £750,000 for new building's and for renewals of old schools.

The Budget stresses the point tV>t much leeway has to he overtaken Regarding buildings, but the prohibitive increase of buildin gt costs has created great difficulties for the Minister in carrying out the progressive policy he initiated on taking office. , PBOPOSET) E XPENDIT LIRE. School buildings and renewals must be maintained for four or live yeais before the arrears can be cleared oif. The Budget indicates a fairly large increase in teachers’ salaries, and points out that teachers have been more liberally dealt with in relation to increases during the war period than other branches of the Public Service. School committee grants which, *>£ late years, have been raised fiom £50,000 to £BO,OOO, are to be again raised to a moderate extent. The Budget fails to indicate the proposed salary to the new Director of Education, but suggests the importance of making liberal provision to attract the best available educationists, either from New Zealand or abroad. *

Important developments of the Public Health policy are to he announced, the special'feature being’ the extension of hackhlocks nursing system, the erection of nurses dwelling's, with tAvo or three extra rooms for emergency wards, where cases in the Backblocks may he temporarily treated pending removal to the main hospital. Twenty hackhlo|dvs- nurses are at work, hut the uumhm' will he largely extended, Especially in the sawmilling districts and centres of public works construction. -More purses with maternity certificates are to he engaged under this scheme. It is intended, t'o establish special service nurses in Maori settlements as an alternative to the subsidy of 'part-time doctors. ‘ •- “■ .