Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, APRIL 28th, 1938. BRITAIN'S BUDGET.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1938, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, APRIL 28th, 1938. BRITAIN'S BUDGET.

.gRITAIN is approaching the i thousand millions Budget I mark. Indeed, if borrowing is tak- | on into account, she has surpassed i it. The figures should be terribly j impressive, but post-war developments have consistently made ' what was abnormal, almost comI monplace. To-day, taxpayers accept burdens that earlier generations would have declared to be impossible to carry. True, the national wealth remains stupendous, and the purchasing power of money is less, but this expansion of expenditure and taxation cannot continue indefinitely. Lamentations over the need for the Chancellor’s latest demands, will not be lessened because the cause is mainly rearmament, forced on Britain by the policies of other Powers. There is little controversy, now, in the Homeland, regarding the necessity to restore national defences to a strength enabling the preservation of national rights

and liberties. It is realised that

all must share in the cost, according to their means, and on the whole, the Chancellor’s proposals are on an equitable basis. The rise in income tax, allowing for exemptions to those with small incomes, or with families to support, should not be harassing, nor will the higher duties on lea and petrol cause misgiving. An income tax of 5/6 in £1 seems dreadfully high, but it must be remembered that there is little indirect taxation in Britain. New Zealanders, for instance, are not called upon to pay so high a rate of income tax, but they have innumerable other taxes, direct and indirect, which makes their last lot worse than those with similar incomes, in Britain.

From Mr. Chamberlain downwards, British Ministers declare that there is little likelihood of early Avar in Europe, yet the Avhole policy is being framed as if such outbreak Avill occur. Rearmament is being expedited, missions are being sent abroad to purchase hurriedly, Avhat Britain, herself, cannot supply in adequate quantities. The revelations in the Chancellor’s Budget speech told of huge buyings of Avheat, oil and sugar, and although gratification will be felt at the departmental foresight and efficiency thus proved, the question will arise as to Avhy all these rush precautions, if there is no likelihood of early war ? The fact has to be faced that the situation in Europe, and perhaps the Far East, is not so peaceful as the Ministers claim. Britain’s resolve to meet force with greater force, and her ability to maintain huge expenditure, are factors tending to preserve the peace, and this is the extenuation for a Budget that otherwise Avould be inexcusable, and, of course, unnecessary.