OUTLOOK IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1928, Page 8

OUTLOOK IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Mr. Bavin, the ex-New Zealander who is now Premier of the State of New South Wales, has kept his word. When opposing the late Labour Ministry he said that if given support by the electors he would cleanse local politics and redijce taxation. In regard to politics the . inquiries in regard to the civicadministration of Sydney have been part of the cleansing process, but as they are not yet complete, it would be unfair to comment upon them in detail. Sufficient has been made public, however, to justify the assertion of the State Premier that there was need for a good deal of purification in local politics. The record of the Labour Ministry, to which Mr. Bavin succeeded, was one of ever-increasing taxation. Socialistic experiments, constitutional changes, even an attack upon the Governor, were all held to be weapons worthy of use to maintain Labour in office. The result was a stagnation in industry, industrial unrest and a burden of taxation that was almost unbearable. Mr. Bavin is able to show a much better record for his first year of office. He anticipates a surplus, and that he will be able to reduce taxation by at least £1,000,000. The national debt of the State has been reduced by £1,300,000, and the State has now joined the scheme whereby the Commonwealth controls all outside borrowing. This . has undoubtedly assisted to rehabilitate the State’r credit in London. Though industrial troubles have been very much in evidence, there has been less truckling to union tyranny than when Labour Ministers took their orders from a caucus, which kept its ear to the ground. The result has been a feeling of renewed confidence in the outlook for the State, a feeling that is being manifested in the financial result achieved by the National Government.