MR. SCULLIN'S BUDGET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20628, 29 July 1930, Page 9

MR. SCULLIN'S BUDGET.

PROTEST IN MELBOURNE.

DEMAND FOR REVISION. CROWDED TOWN HALL MEETING, ,\t a public meeting convened by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and held on July 16, unanimous support was given to the appeal by speakers that there should be a revision of tho Federal Budget, particularly of tlie taxation proposals. Jt was decided unanimously that the meeting should protest against thu imposition of what was described as colossal new taxation, without all-round economies being effected in the cost of Government and in every branch of public expenditure. Mr. J. A. Boyd, president of the Chamber of Commerce, moved: " That as (lie proposed taxes will further seriously increase the cost of living, raise production costs, and drastically affect the primary producing industries, mercantile, manufacturing and financial interests, thus .increasing unemployment, we appeal to the members ot both Federal Houses to support the public demand for a revision of the Budget." The motion was agreed to.

A motion submitted bv the Taxpayers' Association, and agreed to, emphasised that while recognising the necessity for balancing the Budget, this should he done more by economy in all Government expenditure than by iucreased taxation. It was also decided that a joint committee of representatives of primary producers, financiers and business men from all over Victoria should be formed with a view to placing befoie the Government suggestions that might be of assistance in the present crisis. Much Room For Economy.

Mr. Boyd, in moving the first resolution, said that much that was in the Budget had to be in it, but there was a. great deal of room left for economy, arid that was what the people wanted carried into effect. There was the question of swollen State departments. A sales tax had been proposed, but there was not one public servant today who knew anything about a sales tax, and the Government was bringing from' Canada an expert to initiate this new department in government. The Commonwealth Government were not the only sinners in regard to the growth of expensive departments, said Mr. Boyd, the States were a great deal worse. But as the time had arrived when they were laccd with more widespread unemployment, u protest had to be made to the Government, so that it would realise that they (the audience) meant what they said—that it was necessary for Governments to live within their means. Mr. Boyd said that the extra departmental expenditure of £1.095,000 for last year was incurred at a time when the financial situation in England was such that they were not paying their way. There was not. a man in the community, no matter what his brand of politics, wlio did not want to see Australia, pay its debts. But Mr. Seullin that if he could only raise so many more millions in England all would be well. What for; To pay interest on the loans which had been met by overdrafts on Louden banks. The position was very serious for Australia. The visit of Sir Otto Nieineyer to Australia was evidence that they were in a pretty bad way. (A chorus of " Xoes."). " No Time for Tulips." The small sum of £3OOO, continued Mi'. Boyd in satirical vein, had been spent iu providing tulips to decorate the front of Parliament House in Canberra. Ihey looked very nice, those tulips, but this was a time when they could do without tulips—(laughter)—and do it very well. (Laughter and applause.) All they asked was that the Government of this country should take every care to see that the business of the nation was carried on with reasonable expenditure. Mr. A. S. llodgers. chairman of the Stock Owners' Association, in seconding the motion, said that, the policy of borrowing the savings of other nations had landed Australia in a parlous condition. Whereas in 1911 there was no Commonwealth debt, and the accumulated debts of the States amounted to £320,000.000, with interest at £3 12s 6d per cent., today the public debt—Federal and Stale combined —was about £1.200,000,000. Australia was faced with a position which no good citizen should shirk. The gravity "of the position could not be exaggerated.

ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE.

SMALL SURPLUS FORECAST. When the Commonwealth Budget wa» oresented by the Prime Minister, Mr. .7. 11. Scullin, on" July 10, the cstinutci had not been completed and only provisional group tuials ot' expenditure were presented. The official estimates were published last week. 1 hey show a total expenditure £25,000 lower than the amount assumed bv Mr. Scullin. The total net expenditure charged to the Bud-get-is, therefore, £65,585,770, which, is £1,066,792 more than the actual expenditure for 1929-30.

The estimate of revenue, based on proposals for increased taxation is £65,622,000, so that the Budget forecasts a surplus of £36,230. The accumulated deficit on Juno 30 was £6,458,723; this is to be temporarily covered by an appropriation of £7.000,000 from loan account to the consolidated revenue fund.