THE BUDGET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 July 1924, Page 9

THE BUDGET

FORECAST OF CONTENTS. LOWER TAXATION. RAILWAY FREIGHTS AND FARES TO BE REVISED. (By Telegraph.—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, July 23. The Financial Statement, to be delivered to-night by Air Massey, will not be spectacular. It will carefully review conditions and show that from" the Einance Minister's viewpoint last year was the best New Zealand ever experienced. Reduced taxation is the keynote, but .those expecting details will be disappointed. A definite reduction of income tax is to be indicated, but the more complicated questions surrounding land tax will not be dealt with until the introduction of the Land and Income Tax Bill shortly. There will be no customs or excise resolutions accompanying the Statement, as the Govei mnei.iL is disinclined to open up the tariff for one item, such as tobacco, which would be likely to receive first consideration. The’ Government proposes to continue public works at an unabated pace, £1,000,000 of the surplus being transferred to the Public Works Fund towards the coming year’s expenditure. Soldiers’ land settlement will be pushed to what is expected to be a. satisfactory conclusion. The Premier will be unable to announce the total capital writen off soldiers’ lands as the revaluations and final consideration are only half complete. Civilian land settlement is to be resumed, though , the Budget- will express a cautious note regarding the encouragement of immigrants for land settlement under the present conditions. Details of State Advances lor farmers and house-builders will show surprising totals. Although the Premier recently announced his ability to add £250.000 new capital to the departments monthly, he can exceed this total for some time, enabling arrears to be rapidly overtaken. The naval vote remains at £IOO,OOO. hut the Government proposes to accept the Admiralty expert’s advice that a second light cruiser be maintained by New Zealand. This expenditure will not exceed the £IOO,OOO vote approved last session for fhe Singapore base, which will not be required. Railway freights and fares are to be revised, but details await the report of the Royal Commission shortly to investigate every phase of railway operation in the Dominion.