THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 25

THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

MELBOURNE, October 14. Sir WnS" Lyne delivered the Federal Budget to-night. The total revenue for the year waa 1 £15,015,798. 'Customs and excise yielded £11,645,409, and the Post Office £3,297,100. The total realised over the preceding year was £2,013,629. The Treasurer attributed the large itk crease partly to the new tariff and partly to the general prosperity. The expenditure for the year, exo.usiv« of payments to the State Treasuries, wa» £6,158,893. N October 15^. I Sdr W. J. Lyne said that the amount' repaid to the States last year waa £8,859,596, which was £1,080,000 a-bove tbe eauhnaite. In future t\*s States would! nob receive a penaiy more than their statutory three-fourths. Since federation they had received £6,059,000 in excess of their three-fourths. " ; /Phe ecuimated revenrue for the" current iy.2ftur was £14,577,271. Customs and Excise we're expected to yield- £11,040,711, and t8» Po§t "Office £3.483,000, The.ex- ' penditure was estimated at £6,513,579. The Post Office appropriations pro<vid© for an increase of £229,000, and the Defence expenditure for £1,102,681, an increase of £18,176. This amount is exclusive of £250,000 fcr coaxal aad harbour defence. The™ amount -to be to tho States wouild bs £8,063,693, a decrease of £795,904. Bs estimated tihait the Federal old-aga pensions would cost £1,225,000 per aisium, the levy for the currer* year being £410,800. I New proposals include a Federal stamp and printing office and a Coinage Bill. The coinage of Australian eilver and gold coin is expected to yield an annual profit of £56,000. The ksue of Commonwealth notes was also foreshadowed. I Reference was made to the steady development of Papua. Before the House rises to-night Mr Reid will move a want-of-confidenca motion over the Budget proposals.