N.S.W. GOVERNMENT

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1932, Page 4

N.S.W. GOVERNMENT

Reducing Relief WIDOWS TO LOSE PENSIONS. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). SYDNEY, September 22. The Premier, Mr Stevens, in his Budget speech, stated the Government intended to reduce the unemployment relief tax on earnings below 70s a week. The widows’ pensions would be reviewed with a view to seeking out those not entitled thereto. The rates of interest to Crown debtors would be reduced, benefitting largely the working folk in the Metropolitan area. Rationing was to be discontinued on the railways and tramways. Soeial services, where overlapping, would be co-ordinated. The whole net profits of the State lottery would be devoted to hospitals. Rail freights on wood and live stock were already reduced ten per cent. Coal freights had already been reduced. There would be no increase in taxation, but next year, if circumstances warrant, as he believed they would, the Government, working in eo-operation with the Federal authorities, would lighten the burdens on industry, giving it every chance to expand, and increasing the safety margins of investing securities. The net loss on the railways, last year, was £4.555.664. The estimated loss in the current year was £1,976,000. He expressed satisfaction that the huge annual expenditure on the harbour bridge had "ended; also the major cost of undergrounding fcr the city railway had been defrayed. These works were now in a reproductive stage. The Budget disclosed that the Government had been able to reduce the deficit by many millions and it now promised to reduce the cost of Government in the current year by over seven millions. Everything was working out in accordance with the Premiers’ Plan, preparing the way for a. complete national recovery. The Legislative Council, at a late sitting, carried the second reading of the Bill for the reform of that Chamber, by 53 votes to 25. Mr Willis urged the withdrawal of the Bill. If passed, Labour would never get a majority in the Chamber, and a referendum on the proposed reform, without an alternative would fail.