TAXATION AND EXPENDITURE.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4228, 14 February 1921, Page 1

TAXATION AND EXPENDITURE.

The intimate relationship that exists between taxation and expenditure is coming to be better understood in those days of growing financial stringency. The demands of the Government press hardly upon certain classes of taxpayers who, not unnaturally, glance askance at the heavy expenditure Incurred by the several departments of State, and who view, with feelings of mingled alarm and consternation the possibility of having to meet still further heavy charges ih the days that are coming. P Certaii press critics have taken trie Government severely to task over its alleged extravagances and its supposed failure ,to insist upon economies in administration that appear very desirable, but are not always feasible, Ono such critic, who was for ever bewailing the loss to New Zealand of Jtjiei exMlieral Ministers of Finance, and predicting financial ruin and disaster ot (he " 'prentice hands" of their successors, has rather distinguished himself-, of late weeks, by the varying moods in which he has followed up the subject, one day deploring the extravagances of the Government, and predicting all sorts of financial evils ; the next demanding "justice" and increased payments for Government servants, etc., and.. insisting at th-3 same time that the public establish-, ment must be cut down, and then again sounding the more optimistic note that there is nothing really wrong with the financial position of the country and that it is well able to bear the burdens it is carrying provided the Government acts with prudence, and so forth—all of whic'i is very interesting if a little contradictory.