AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PROBLEMS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 679, 31 March 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PROBLEMS.

.IMPORTANT SPEECH BY MR FISHER. FLEET OF TWENTY DESTROYERS. COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING. GRADUATED LAND TAX FOREOASTED. STATE FINANCE. (Press Association.—By Telegraph.— Copyright). Reoeived March 81,1.35 a.m. Brisbane, Last Night. The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Fisher, delivered the first sootion of his policy speech at'Gympie to-night. Dealing with national finance he deolared for a fixed minimum of five millions per annum guaranteed to the States, the latter to receive any surplus on a per capita basis. He proposed the creation of an Australian fleet of not less than twenty destroyers, oalliug for an expenditure of at least three millions in addition to the oost of maintenance during the next three yeaia. The military defence proposals will iuolude a scheme for universal compulsory military training. To effectively accomplish these naval and military sohemes flnanoial provision ,will be made by direot taxation.

In default of proper steps being taken by the States to provide land for immigrants the Federation will institute a progressive land tax with an exemption of £SOOO. Mr Fisher also proposed an absentee tax.