THE BUDGET.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14056, 13 November 1909, Page 6

THE BUDGET.

PREMIER INTERVIEWED. REPLY TO MR MASSEY. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 12. Sir J. G. Ward interviewed regarding Mr Massoy's criticisms of the Budget and especially the statement of Mr Massey that the Budget .proposals disclose "a state of things calculated to make sane sobermined people wonder how this wild cat policy will end, said he regretted that Mr Massey does not finish his observations and give facts instead of a generalisation. The principal increases in the expenditure proposed in the Budget, said the Premier, were the naval defence and internal defence, and for the first time in the history of the dominion provision was being made for defence in a direction which the country generally desires 6hall be adopted. The logical deduction from Mr Massey's observations was that either the proposed strengthening of defence should be abandoned or they should dispense with defence altogether: but if it is believed to be necessary to place defence on a proper basis it cannot be done without paying something for it. If Mr Massey can show how the increased expenditure for these purposes can be provided without furnishing ways and" means to enable them to be effected, then ho will perform a service, not to the Prim© Minister, but to the country at large. Sir Jo=cr>h added :"I inv : to him to do so on suitable and practical lines and not by resorting to a mere defamatory generalisation." As to the proposal that the principal source of taxation should be from an increase in the death duties, Sir Josenh said that, even had there been no proposed increase of expenditure the pronosed alterations <f the dp.ith rh'tics should be effected, as an eTominntion of the present law disclosed to bis mind an absolutely rotten and indefensible system whicli operated unfnirlv in its incidence, being in favour of the wealthier classes.

THE MILITARY PROPOSALS

AN EXPLANATION. CHHISTCHURCH, Nov. 12. The JL'rime Minister discussing tiie question oi compulsory military wainlug, 6uid two training camps sicuid ue established, witinn n-usunaolo distance irom the truuk systems t,t railways in both, islands. They required at least 12,uU(J acres for each (io,UUO acres would bo better). The whole of tho necessary equipment would be properly established ac both centres and instruction stalfs vouid ue i/eriiuuiently resident at the camps 10 enable the work that was required as so essential in the matter of training to be readily available tor thoso taKing part. The general equipme.n:; would be such that the men could be in attendance .at .mtable_ tjmes throughout the year, so as to receive the undeniable benetits referred to. With large areas of land every branch of military training could be carried out and the areas must be sufficiently large to provide for artillery work and to ensure that the training generally was carried out in a practical way. Instead of having the irregular and uncertain system of what were known as Easter camps there would le a recognised and definite system of progressive military work. The camps required to be in central oositio.is in both islands, so that instead of the men being carried long distances in one direction, they would impinge upon a given centre from vhe exr-reme ends of each island, thus evading the present unsatisfactory system of long distance travelling. As soon as the legislation was outlined by Parii.unent the requisite land in both islands would bo set aside for the -amp. On the score of economy the bi/fldings that were required when arge bodies of men were massed being of a permanent nature, should in the loig run effect a considerable saving.

. THE PRIMAGE DUTY. REPLY TO PROTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 12. The following telegrams regarding the proposed imposition of 1 per cone, primage duty on dutiable goods has passed between the Auckland Wholesale Merchants' Association, and the Prime Minister: — "At a meeting of the Auckland Wholesale Merchants' Association held this morning the following resolution was unanimously carried 'Xiiat we protest against the levy of 1 per cent, primage duty on all dutiable goods for reasons herein set forth —That ihe charge is vexatious by reason of the amount of trouble in collecting as well as the trouble it gives the importer in making special declarations and the producing of original invoices of goods in bond, some of these goods having been there for years; that the charge is so small that it becomes exceedingly difficult to collect this tax from oifr customers and we believe that the bulk of the tax must fall on the wholesale and retail traders; we recommend as an alternative that 2d per ib be placed on tea, which is now < n the free list; this will give the Treasury a slightly greater amount, will be easier collected by the Customs *nd is a tax which will fall equitably on the whole community; tea is not free in any other country that we Know of, and even now in free trade England the duty is 6d per lb.". The Prime Minister lias replied as follows: —"Your telegram re Customs duties to hand, and I have carefully considered the representations contained therein. I much regret that I am unable to see my way to comply with the request. Your proposal is one which in effect would mean 'taxing the breakfast table' and I have left all free goods out of the 1 per cent, primage duty in order to •'"-isiire the policy of those goods which are now free remaining so. For (Jlis icason I do not see any way to niake a change in the direction suggested."

PROTEST FROM MERCHANTS. DUNEDIN, Nov. 12. A meeting of local merchants protested strongly against the form in which the Government propose to col-

lect the primage duty. The difficulty j of computing the tax, together with i netting the necessary information ! from the Customs Department, in ad- j dition to the trouble caused to the Customs officers, is considered altogether disproportionate to the sum to bo raised. It is suggested that if a more simple means of raising this revenue cannot, be adopted, the primage duty should be levied on all dutiable goods as imported and not on goods in bond. Merchants make the suggestion that the amount required could bo simply collected by the imposition of a temporary duty of an eighth of a penny on sugar.

MR BUXTON'S VIEWS. Mr Buxton, M.P., who camo south yesterday for a few days, when questioned by our reporter as to his opinion, stated he thought that ho was rather too young in polities for his opinion on such a big thing as the Statement now before tho country. Ho was very pleased, however, to find that there was to be introduced in the now form of taxation a graduated income-tax. To his mind this was the most equitable and just tax any country could adopt, and a form of taxation he had always strongly approved. He took tho earliest opportunity of expressing bis views by introducing it, m Ins first; speech from the floor ol the House He also strongly favoured the alteration in death dues; wo found it absolutely evaded by those who worn justly entitled to pay and it was Lime that this important matter had attention. Asked as to his opinion mi tnc licensing legislation Mr Buxton s aid tuat nitre *as &><>* sunt proposed but whther he would swallow tho -whole pill" tie did not know; ho <hd . not care to commit huuseli at. the moment. the long tii.-t.uH-e j>hsm-ii-ger rate, banking ,and racing clubs increase of taxes he fully approved. ilio aniommieiits m tno Uuu huv.m were quite in the right direction, but would of course need some padding and trimming. But on tho wholo they were sound, and what is required by the people of this country. Air Buxton said ho was quite aware that increase of taxation never was, and never will be popular, but he telt •satisfied that the present proposed increase falls on the broadest sliouldci.s —on those best and well able to bear it He could not see a single point where anyone would find the pinch too heavy, or too hard to bear lho small farmer, the worker and he who finds his load already heavy enough, would not find it added to by what is proposed in the Statement. Ou the whole, ho considers that there is placed before this country, some ol the most useful and progressive legislative proposals ever placed before tins or any other country in the world.

DEFENCE PROPOSALS. Major H. S. E." Hobday, i.f Christchurcn, who was praecicany the military oiheer to advocate sury training, and who some line ago, in compliance with a request by ne Government, supplied it wirn oetaus of the scheme he had orawn up, saiu to a "Press" reporter:—" ihe proposals would seem to he an attempt to assist in every way the volunteer system, and tor the lirst time an mUicatiou is given as to the numoer it is deemed necessary by the (joverument to retain as the nucleus ot a defence force, viz., 20,000 volunteers. The compulsory training would seem to be designed to provide a feeder lor the volunteer force which is retained in larger numbers than now exist. There can be no doubt as to the beneiicial effect of compulsory training if taken in hand seriously, and- if the men are trained by a competent staff, but the idea as submitted would seem to imply the supplying of a spur for the filling up of the volunteer ranks. It is difficult to say what effect such an effort to secure this voluntary system may have, since the scheme docs not mention any proposal to provide or instruct, officers, or any measure to ensure the final retirement of any of those at present in the force, including all ranks from the headquarters staff downwards, so that only the actually useful ami efficient may he retained. Neither is there any mention of the re-organisation of the force itself. So many units have come into existence at various times under varying circumstances, that with the infantry specially there exists an urgent need for reduction of corps and an augmentation of numbers for each company retained. The education and training of officers is the crux of the whole business. If those enlisted under compulsion are to undergo fourteen days' consecutive training it will" be necessary for the volunteer forces to do at least as much to remain on an equal footing of efficiency. The proposal is riot as simple as some others that have been submitted, and embraces larger numbers than many have thought necessary. However, the chief thing is to establish some reliable system of training officers, as without a sufficient supply of officers highly trained, no system can produce a reliable defence force."

Lieut.-Colonel Cooper thought the scheme was on the whole satisfactory. He would have preferred to see the age of 24 years fixed for the expiration of compulsory training, instead of 21 years. As 21 years had been decided upon, however, lie would advocate a further term of three years with lessened attendance. It would he only reasonable for the Government to provide uniforms. All that would bo necessary would be a khaki outfit that could bo obtained for about £l, and would last the tliree years of training.