ECONOMY WANTED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 September 1924, Page 8

ECONOMY WANTED.

AUSTRALIA’S REIGN OF EXTRAVAGANCE

DOMINION’S EFFORT ADMIRED

AUCKLAND, Sept. 3. “If ive could only get some of tlie spirit of the Dominion Government in the Commonwealth we might begin to introduce a policy of economy, so badly needed if we are to put a stop tc the present reign of extravagance ” Thus the Hou. It. D. Meagher, of Sydney, expressed himself on Monday. Mr. Meagher said that although he was opposed to Mi 1 . Massey in politics he would like to express his-admiration of the effort made in New Zealand since the Avar in the direction of economy. No attempt at economy was being made in Australia, and unless the present tendency avus checked it Avas going to produce a serious problem for the Commonwealth. The total debt of the CommonAvealth and States Avas approximately £989,000,000, with only six million people to carry the burden of paying interest in good and bad years He drew, a comparison Avith the position m Britain before .the Avar, when the national debt- hardly reached a billion pounds,. Avith from 4.6 to 47 million people to meet the annual charges.. In Australia the annua] imports Avere <noAVing bv hundreds of thousands of pounds, and, accordingly, as the surplus came from the Customs it Avas immediately absorbed. The present attitude Avas no doubt a tribute to the Avonderful potentialities of Australia, hut certainly not to the politicians, Avho were making no effort to stabilise finances as was being done in New Zealand.