THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1922. THE BRITISH BUDGET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18544, 3 May 1922, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1922. THE BRITISH BUDGET.

The Budget, which was presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer‘in the House of Commons on Monday last, affords a very lucid exposition of the operations upon the \ public account during the financial year ended; on the 31st March. 'The opcurrence of serious strikes and the prevalence of unemployment on a very extensive scale during the year were not, factors favourable to the production of a satisfactory Budget, hut it is 'to he observed with gratification that, although the revenue totalled £91,000,000 below the amount which the Chancellor had calculated on receiving, the year closed with a surplus of £45,693,000. To this fortunate result a rather surprisingly large yield in income-tax and super-tax' seems to have contributed materially. On the basis of existing taxation the Chancellor estimates that the revenue for the. current year would amount to £946,600,000 and he is budgeting for an expenditure of £910,000,000 —a total that is greater than the committal of the Government to a policy of retrenchment in the public services raiglit have led us to anticipate. Sir Robert Horne considers himself justified in the circumstances in proposing reductions of taxation that will unquestionably be highly acceptable to the British community. A reduction of Is in the income tax is proposed, and with this is associated a reduction by onehalf of the basis for assessment of taxation on agricultural land and a reduction to the pre-war level of the basis for assessment on non-agricultural land. Indirect taxation is to be reduced, also, by taking fourpence per pdund off the duty of Is per lb levied on tea and by remissions in respect of the duties on coffee, chicory, and cocoa. Further, a reduction is announced in the postal rates, the increase of which was greeted some months ago by a storm of indignation. By these concessions to the. public the Chancellor reduces the margin between the estimated revenue and estimated expenditure of the current year to distinctly narrow dimensions, but the risk which ho is taking cannot he regarded as serious since, if the recent recommendations of the Geddes Economy Committee were .well founded, there must he considerable room still for the .reduction of the expenditure upon the national services. It is to be J observed that there is to be a suspension of sinking fund payments during the current year, and, though there may be some ground for the view that these payments have been needlessly heavy in the past, this constitutes decidedly the least satisfactory feature of the Budget. '

THE DOMINION BIRTH-RATE. It does not follow that a drop in the birth-rate figures for Greater Wellington during the past month, discoverable through the ordinary channels of comparison, is to he necessarily considered as a cause for national alarm. It is conceivable that the balance may he adjusted in other parts of the dominion. Dr Truby King supplies, however, the enlargement from the particular to the general, together with arresting comment, when he draws attention to the fact that all over New Zealand the birth-rate is steadily going down. The official figures show a fall of 25.69 births per thousand of mean population in 1917 to 21.27 per thousand last year. In 1919 the rate was 21.42 per thousand, hut there was a marked recovery, almost to the 1917 level, in 1920. Unfortunately, ' as will be seen, this * recovery was not sustained lost year; The figure for 1901 was 26.34 per thousand, and during the succeeding years, save for the fall in 1918 and 1919, the, rate did not fluctuate greatly, being 25.09 for 1920. The abnormally low figure for 1919 was attributed to causes arising out of the war, and to the greatly reduced marriage rate of the two preceding years. But the unpleasant fact has now to be faced that the lowest level on record was reached in 1921, hut it may be surmised that it is a fact

which is explainable in a considerable measure by causes arising out of the economic situation. In so far as this is the case there should be a prospect of recovery when these causes are removed. Nevertheless, the tendency towards a decline in the birth-rate of the dominion in recent years is plainly shown in the records. It is not particularly consoling to know that the really “tremendous decline” in the birth-rate figures for this country took place between the “seventies” and the “nineties.”’ Dr King observes that the fall “towards a mere maintenance standard” is “menacing and serious.” No doubt it is. But the problem is not one peculiar to the dominion. It may be said to confront the Empire as a whole, to say nothing of other countries. The one saving feature in the situation in New Zealand seems to be this, that while the birth rate is low compared with that r of many other countries, yet so low is the deathrate that in point of fiatural increase the dominion i§ near the top of the world’s list, ranking third and equal with Australia in this connection at the latest period at which reliable statistics were available for most parts of the globe.

THE INCIDENCE OF TAXATION. It is announced this morning that the Government has appointed a Committee to inquire report upon,_the incidence of in the dominion. The committee is composed of eleven persons, mostly resident in the North Island and mainly representative of the commercial and farming interests. The' appointment of the committee is in fulfilment of a promise which the Prime Minister made some little time ago that he would seek the advice during the parliamentary recesfe of competent authorities upon the subject'of taxation with the view of effecting an improvement in the present incidence which admittedly has distinct weaknesses. It is to be observed that it is a committee, not a Royal Commission, which has been set up. It was suggested to Mr Massey last session that a Royal Commission should be brought into existence for the very purpose which the' appointment of this committee is designed to serve, hut the suggestion did not appeal to him, The distinction between a Commission and the committee may he said to consist in this, that the committee will not be empowered to call witnesses and will not peregrinate over the country but, composed as iff certainly is of men who realise the defects in the present system of taxation, will act in an ,adyisory capacity tt> the Government, indicating to it methods by which the incidence of the system may he so as equitably to distribute the burden that has to he home by the community. The committee seems to he. larger than should he necessary and yet—a more serious objection to it—to be representative of too few interests. Its influence and weight would have been increased if it had been mdde more widely representative of the different classes of taxpayers. '

At a meeting of tee executive of. the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association last night, the secretary (Mr A. C. Laing)'stated that he had received £923'16s 9d as the proceeds of Poppy Day, and that he Would submit a full statement of receipts and expenditure to the next meeting. The president (Colonel M’Donald) voiced tee association's thanks to those who assisted in the sale of tee poppies and to tee publio for, its generous support. The Otago District Committee of the soldiers’ organisation is taking steps to ensure that local associations will be entrusted with the disbursement of local funds.

A committee meeting of the Women’s Citizens’ Association was. held last evening in the Y.M.C.A. building, M6ray place, Mrs Spence Clark presiding. A letter was received from tee Returned Soldiers’ Association, thanking the ladies for their assistance on Poppy Day, and mentioning that the return, in money, from this one'source was £55 Us 6d. If was decided that'the Women’s Citizens’ Association assist in the strpet collection for the Russian, Relief Fund. In connection, with a deputation from the association that waited upon tee City Council some little time ago, a letter had been drafted in accordance with the wishes of the City Council; one of the chief requests made being that Cargill’s monument be removed to the Gardens. The draft letter was approved. The remainder of the committee work was purely formal. The usual monthly meeting of tee association was to have followed, but obstacles came in the way, and it was not held. A fireman named Edward M'Ardle was arrested by Acting EtetoctiVe Sneddon yesterday, and will appear in oourt this morning to answer a charge of stealing three billiard balls, the 'property of Samuel Simmons. Advice has been received from tee Department of Education, Wellington, .by the secretary of the Otago Educational Institute (Mr T. Begg) that the data- for receiving grading appeals has been extended to May 13. An opportunity of appealing will now be accorded to members who-were debarred through the late arrival of tee Gazette.

During tee week end at Purakanui (writes a correspondent) the pleasure launch Maerimahanish returned to the inlet within a few hours with a record catch totalling close -on 300 fish, consisting of red cod, hapukas, and Johny dorys, and the Fillup also brought in a large catch, consisting of cod, skate, and ling. Calm weather prevailed outside with a smooth sea, and fishermen had good sport on tee rooks, good ‘bags being obtained. Mr F. W. Furkert, Chief Engineer of tee Publio Works Department, left for Auckland by the Tutanekai for the purpose of investigating and reporting on the question of providing k light at the Three Kings (says a Wellington Press Association ■'message).

The general meeting of the delegates from the various sections called to discuss the refusal of the Government to allow the Post and Telegraph, Officers’ Association to affiliate with the Alliance of Labour will be held at Wellington on Friday (says a Press Association message).

Alfred Slorrie, an elderly man, of un--kempfc appearance, was charged at tee Oity Police Court yesterday, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.. with being an idle and disorderly person, having no visible lawful means of support He intimated that he had asked three police officials to communicate with Mr , “a solicitor of mine,” but they had not done so. The magistrate intimated that he would have an opportunity of consulting with his solicitor. Chief Detective Bishop, who prosecuted, said this was the first the police knew ■of any desire on the part of the accused to see a solicitor. He understood that Storrie intended to plead guilty; and, under the circumstances, must ask for a remand until next day, as he was not prepared to go on with the case. The application for a remand was granted. A ease was called at the Balclutea Magistrate’s Court on Monday (Says the Leader) in which L. W. Potter, clerk, Bruce County Council; proceeded against the Kaituna Coal Company (Ltd.), James Milne Morrison and Archibald Morrison, Thomas Gage, mineowners, Kaitangata, for causing damage to part of the Wangaloa-Ka-itangata road by extraordinary traffic, whereby Bruce County Council had incurred and will incur extraordinary expenSe in repairing tee same road. The' case was brought under section ,150 of the Public Works Act, 1908. When the matter was brought up Mr Grigor stated teat as the result of a conference of the parties concerned a tentative arrangement had*been arrived «t, and he applied for a month’s adjournment■ in each QUft. , - ,

The petition sow being circulated by the Dominion Sportsmen’s Association, asking for a Parliamentary dommisaion to take evidence concerning the gambling laws, has been approved by the Auckland Drivers’ Union and the Waterside Workers' Union. One resolution endorsed the efforts of the Sportsmen’s Association “in their* endeavours to have established the right of bookmakers to ply their calling under approved surveillance and license”; while the other declares that “the present gaming law is not only illogical end unpopular, but it has done nothing to minimise' the betting evil.”

Mr J. Blair Mason, engineer, met the members of the Te Puke River Board bn Friday last, end subsequently explained to a gathering of ratepayers the scheme recently prepared ‘by himself and Mr Holmes . for lowering the Kaitum River to improve the drainage of 27,000 acres of land. The meeting endorsed the scheme, which . provided for the Kaituaa River outlet to be at Maketu. The preliminary work is estimated to cpst £24,000. The question of giving immediate relief to the flooded areas was considered, and it was agreed to. approve of a temporary out to be made at T© Tumu.

The teachers in public and private schools throughout New Zealand have complied with the requirements of the Education Amendment Act, and taken the oath of allegiance (says a Wellington Press Association message). The Minister of Education (the Hon. Q. J. Parr) yesterday informed a pressman that there was, so far as he was aware, only one refusal to tako the oath, and that was by a teacher at the Christchurch Boys’ High School, whose refusal had beed reported in a press telegram. All other teachers had, as loyal and law-abiding citizens, taken the oath without demur.

As most of the sportsmen who went out shooting at the' beginning of the season have not yet returned to town, it. is difficult to leam anything definite as to .what sport is offering in the country. One or two small parties who visited the neighbourhood of Outram report poor bags, ! but another party of four who shot, over Mathieson’s swamp secured a bag of about 40 ducks and several swans. The Olutha Free Press reports that the opening of the season was marked by extremely fine weather, and as a consequence dhcks were flying high, even in the early morning. Some fairly good bags -were secured—viz., Messrs 8. Parvis and E. White (HUlead) 10 and . eight respectively on the Puerua River; Mr A. Buchanan and party, eight ducks and three hares; Mr Stiveny(Moegiel) and party, four ducks on the Pueriia; Messrs Keen and Fletcher, a good bag. Mr Jas. Smith, of Barnego, end his son, shooting on the Kaitangata Lake, secured thb full complement—namely, 25 birds each—a total of SO for the two guns. The ducks are reported as plentiful ' The quarterly attendance returns for the period ended. March 31, compiled .by the . Otago Education Board, show that there were 253 schools in operation‘in the Otago district. The average number on the rolls during the quarter was 20,240, comprising 19,594 boys and 9646 girls, being 502 leas •(ban for the - previous quarter and 177 more than for the-March quarter of 1921. The ayerage attendances for the city and suburban schools were: Forbuiy, 712; NorteEast Valley, 646; Caveraham, 627;. Kaikorai, 575; . Normal, 656; Momington, 561; Musselburgh, 561; Macmdrew Road, 546; Albany Street, 530;“ George Street, 466; High Street, 483; Arthur Street* 444; St Clair, 436; Kensington, 565: Maori HID;. 314'; Green Island, 302; Anderson’s Bay, 288; Moray Place, 278; Ravensbonme, 209; Wakari, ■ 127; Concord, 111 ; and Leith Valley; 40. The average for tee Oamaru schools were:—South School, 517; North School, 475; Middle School, 111. - The average for tee district high schools were Port Chalmers, 473; Bkldutha, 430; Mo*- . giel, 350; Tokomairiro, 322; Palmerston, 230; Tapanui, 151; Alexandra, 189; Lawrence, 171; and Owaka, 137.' The Table Hill and Wethers tome Schools were dosed, ■ during tee quarter, end Dalrachney School ‘was reopened. ' , <

The prices of certain classes of West Coast timber have been reduced in Christchurch, the drop being from Is to 3s per 100 ft (wires our Christchurch correspondent). The reduction, which operates from May 1, has been decided- upon by' the North Canterbury Timber Merchants’ Association ,in anticipation of a drop in prices on the West Coast, which ir announced to” take effect from June L The trade has taken this action in order to meet the competition in timber which has developed from Southland, and also stimulate building operations, if possible. Actually the reductions will, not make a great, deal of difference in the cost of a house, because they only apply to undressed timbers. ' Red pine /sawn timber, not suitable for dressing, 10 indies wide, is now 32s per 100 feet; 12 inch, 33s • 6d; half-inch rough battens, 2 by 1,6 s 6d; 3 by 1,8 s 6d. According to the statement of a'sawmiller on the West Coast, published in the Sun, millers intend to reduce the prices of o.H, .timber (ordinary board),; but there is an actual increase in the standard class .of dressed timber. ’ The timber trade rin Christchurch has decided, however, that for the present the prices of dressed timber shall remain unaltered. The extent of tin drop in Christchurch is only about 8 per cent., and the lines affected usually constitute about one-fifth of the cost of an average house. -

Among tee passengers yesterday from Sydney by the Moeraki was' Dr E. Slack, medical officer at the leper asylum near Maseru, in Basutoland, South Africa, who is on his way to Honolulu te study the latest measures adopted by the American Government to pope with leprosy (wires our Auckland correspondent). Dr Slack, in discussing the matter with a Star reporter, said that in the asylum which he controlled there were 500 lepers, and all were natives. ’ It was claimed by Americana that they had made a great success of their treatment at , Honolulu, and though tee had recently been trying the same method it was too early, in the oases under his charge, tp judge as to results. With regard to anot. er new treatment tl*at was being tried in South Africa results were improving yearly - . At one time hardly anyone used to got out of these asylums, but how they were arrestr ing tee disease in tee same way as they talked of “arrested oases” in connection with consumption. There was a good prospect of stopping tee disease, or bringing it to an end, especially if it was‘dealt, with early.

The fact that a number of attendants at the leper station on Quail Island, in Lyttelton Harbour, regularly attend church services at Charteris Bay has occasioned some alarm among the residents of tee bay (wires our Christchurch correspondent). They feel that they are being' needlessly exposed to the danger of contracting the disease. It is stated that for Ibis reason some do not attend service. A Star reporter asked Dr Telford, medical officer of health, if there were any grounds for alarm. “There is not the slightest occasion for any alarm,” he replied. The degree of infeotivity with leprosy was comparatively slight, and it was only by contact that tee disease was likely to- be contracted. Tuberculosis was a mere contagious disease, and if it w# as rare ( aa leprosy tee same precautions Would be, taken to prevent its spread as ■ tv°,re now taken with leprosy. As for tee attendants going to church services, there, was no need for him 'to object to such action. With leprosy there was no’ such thing as a “carrier.” A person either had the disease or did not have it, and the attendants did not come into personal contact with tee patients. The lepers live on a separate part of the island from tee attendants, and ere divided from them by a wire fence. The lepers have their own dishes, and when requiring food simply / bring these dishes to the fence, and food is placed in teem. Patients and attendants seldom get nearer to each other than about 12 feet.

A stranger, of so old & family that its cousins were the beasts of prehistoric days, a tuatara lizard, was found' a‘ few days ago at Plimmerton a few feet above mark, and Plimmerton folk, and quite a few others, have been puzzling their beads since as to how the lizard came to be there, for as far aa is known there are no tuataras on the mainland of the. North Island now. - One theory was that it might have been carried over from Stephen Island on a floating log, hut another theory has supplanted the first in the minds of many of those interested. This is that in 1911 Dr Endleteberger, who waa relieving Dr. Wilson, brought a tuatara lizard from Rotorua. This he to the family of W. vT. Wood, who were then living, at Plimmerton. It is possible that when Mr Wood’s family left Plimmerton' re> leased the lixud./' ■ \ i'

The police advise that the elderly man reported missing from the Hospital on Mqndoy had been located. A Press Association message says that the Hon. W. Downie Stewart considered that New Zealand-could watch with profit the extension of the system of pools by the primary producers of Australia. Pools in Australia operated in connection with wheat, meat, fruit-preserving, and other primary industries. It was not easy to get a crucial view of the effect of the various pools. Some were operated by States and some by the Federal Government, and some partly by both. The wheat pool had proved a very expensive undertaking for the Governments. The Federal Government guaranteed 5s per bushel, and the State of New South Wales added an extra 2s 6d, and in the last year or two the latter had incurred a loss of between £1,000,000 and £2,000,000/ Opinion was divided as to whether pools should be voluntary or compulsory, but it seemed clear that the principle of pooling agreements, whether under the guise of co-opera-tion, or some other scheme, was hound to spread, and the effect should he carefully watched, not only in the interest of sound Government finance, but also in the interest of the consumers. It is stated in Wellington that there is a prospect of the price of coal being reduced as the result of the Arbitration Court having filed an order reducing the wages of workers in coal mines. The only effect of the order, which is now in operation, is to reduce the wages of the minimum time rate men from 16s per day to 14s 3d. Corresponding decreases are also made in the rates of pieceworkers. Journalists are of migratory instincts (says the Wellington Dominion), and to ascertain the whereabouts of the oldest Wellingtonborn member of the profession still in harness it would be necessary to sift the world. But it is extremely probable that he passed through Wellington recently in the poison of Mr James Mitchell. Slightly over 70 years of age, Mr Mitchell is still at work on the staff of the Oamaru Mail, and recently got out an edition single-handed. Mr Mitchell was a Wellington pressman when the ships rode at anchor where now the steel-frame buildings rear their heads, yet itis only a year or two since he relinquished the active part he took in th© public affairs of th© southern town with which he chose to identify himself. He has gone to Auckland—which he has not visited for 50 years —on a long-delayed vacation. A good deal of discussion took place at th© Relief Committee meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board last week through several of the applicants for relief _ being those who had been receiving epidemic pensions. The Government is endeavouring to curtail as much as possible the amount paid out in this way, and is throwing more responsibility on the Hospital Boards. Pmviously a widower who employed a housekeeper to look after his children was given an allowance to help pay the extra wages, and widows got an equal allowance with the children. It seems strange, many of th© members said, that just at the time when the Prime Minister said we had “turned the comer” such curtailment should take place. . The chairman pointed out that the thing was as broad as it was long, and the people had to pay whichever way it was, but it just showed how unsatisfactory centralisation is, and how much better local control is. It was really a tribute to the administration of the local boards, •where business and humane methods were adopted by men of proved executive ability who knew local conditions well. There are many men whose love and knowledge of horses is so great that they would sooner go without a meal than fail to back for a small amount the horse of their choice at a race meeting (says the Auckland Star). They may have come riotyn in the world and following the most humble occupations, yet their opinions and their “tip” is recognised as worth a good deal by the ordinary patron of the turf.. Lately one of the best known “old sports” in the city had to seek help in the evening of his days because of misfortune. “Once a sport always a sport” is a common saying, and the old boy was no exception to the rule', but was very candid about his affairs, and did not minimise his needs. He got what he asked for, and just as he was going away he was asked if he still struck “a divvy?” A bright sparkle came into Lis eyes, and he answered with a triumphant air, and with a diplomacy that would have done credit to our greatest statesman, “How could I have money to put on a hors© to strike ‘divvies’ when I have had to come to you people for relief?” During the year the hides markets have been extraordinarily slow, states the annual report of th© Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The reason is not far to seek, as the London and American leather markets have been glutted wih supplies (says the Dominion). Consequently there has been no demand. from these quarters, and in turn the Australian tanners have been forced to limit their “input” into the tannery pits. The great shortage in the number of cattle being killed both in New Zealand and Australia has not had any effect in firming up prices as might be expected; in fact, to-day the tendency is for rather lower hide values. Tanners of heavy leather continue to complain of the lack of substance in our heaviest ox hides, and this is entirely because of so many cattle being now killed at throe to four years old. Sprung in the right places, built to resist road shocks for the rider, yet makes the machine durable—Harley-Davidson motor cycles.—W. A. Justice and Co., Otago Agents. 292 Princes street. Dunedin.—Advt “Success treads on the heels of every right effort”; heno© our remarkable success since abolishing washboard slavery with “No-Rubbing” Laundry Help.—H. H. Croft, agent for “No-Rubbing.”—Advt. 18-inch floral nets for evening wear; thades—cream, sky, Paris, and pink; usual price 3s lid; May bargain price, 2s ,6d yard. Mollisons Ltd.—Advt. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, for Coughs and Colds, never fails. —Advt. Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.— Advt. A E. J. Blakeley, dentist. Bank of Aus(ralasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. V ' Advt. Save your Eyes.—Consult Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F. 1.0., London, consulting and oculists’ optician.—“ Peter Dick,” jewellers jjid opticians, Moray place, Duneflin.—Advt.