AUSTRALIAN BUDGETS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11197, 20 August 1898, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN BUDGETS.

Press Association-i-By Telegraph—Copyright.

V , PERTH, August 19. In the Budget speech delivered by the. Premier (Sir J. Forrest) in the Assembly last.night, he estimated the. surplus for the coming year at about £8000. The total trade of the colony last year was £10,358,000, and the exports had increased over £2,500,000. He • introduced the. proposed; tariff. The .reductions, which total £45,000, include a decrease in the duties on cattle, horses, pigs, chilled and tinned meats, hams, bacon, cheese^ oatmeal, clothing, and hemp.' These ,were partially .reimbursed by the imposition of 5 per.cent, duty on machinery and of 2d,'per gallon on local beer. .The Government do not.intend at present to ask. the House, to authorise loans for the construction of railways, which will have to wait. .;, \The Government propose to make extensive reductions in and dismissals- from the public'service! ..The Public Works Estimates have been;,reduced from, a million to less than half a million.

:.' . , ADELAIDE; August 18. In the Legislative Assembly the Treasurer, delivered the Budget speech. The year had closectwith a debit qf £28,000, reckoning the £56',ppO; paid. 6%; the, public,, debt.' : The revenue had decreased by £61,000 comparedwith. the j>reyious year. Allowing, for the. debit, he estiinate4, that .the present year would show'a surplus of £12000. No new taxation is proposed. The conversion of loans had. resulted- iii a saying of £25,000 in interest annually. • ..