The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1933. FINDING FINANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1933. FINDING FINANCE.

The Government is still engaged in soeiung finance in the endeavour to reduce the prospective deficit for ISM-34. Tnat period prom.sea to be a very stringent one and as Mr Coates said in the House this week, if is desired to move betimes, and not allow matters to drift till the country receives a rude.awakening on the verge of a catastrophe, a,? some countries were doing, It is at least comforting to know that the position is being grappled with well in advance, and that the Government nor the country will bp caught unawares. The taxation has' been added to considerably during the present session and until Parliament rises and gees on holiday again, it will not be safe to sav there will not be any further taxation. The taxation figures are substantial. Off the last, decade, 1939 was the highest reaohing nearly twenty millions. There was a drop of over half a million the following year, and in 1932 it totalled nearly seventeen and a half millions—this total being made up of the revenue from custom? (including petrol tax) land and income, taxes, death duties totnlisator and other taxes. The amount was equivalent to £ll 9s 6d per head of the population (including Maoris). It is perhaps surprising to learn that this is the lowed figure for the past decade. However, the next, return will disclose a substantial increase, in view of the extra taxation new being put into, force. The Government must be .alive to the fact that there, is a limit to taxation, and that- some of the sources are drying-up. Customs is falling, land tax has fallen, substantially-.also, death duties because of the declining values of property, and the totblisator tax was the lowest return last year for several years. Incidentally, the Government could derive' much extra revenue through postal and telegraphic sources, if it were legal to send money to racing and trotting clubs for investment on the totalizator, but though urged to do so, the necessary amendment to the law is withheld, and £50,OCO a. year is lost to the national income. With the heavy appropriations for taxation, a. lengthy continuance of this draining will have a .serious effect on business and enterprise. The Government, should certainly do more by wav of savings and economies to save expenditure, and reduce the annual drift. The annual appropriations through the consolidated fund means an average outgoing of nearly two millions a month, and in addition there is a heavy monthly expenditure under senarate accounts. It is plain the administration of the country is costing far too mry-h, and the need for several of the departments now -well staffed at high salaries, is certainly doubtful. With the drop in general trading, the national business has suffered also, and jnopt of the departments must be over-staffed. Heavy savings could be made by an effective overhaul of the Public Service, and that accomplished less taxation would he required. The Government must study both sides of the cash hook, and if expenditure were overhauled as thoroughly as revenue is being added to, the credit balance would be brought to pass so much quicker. No doubt it is a. difficult task and entails unpleasant duty, but the drift is so pronounced generally, that in the public interests, duty in this matter must be performed with the single purpose of the welfare of th© whole and not of the few.