New South Wales Budget.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9217, 4 November 1898, Page 4

New South Wales Budget.

Fiesq Association—Electric' Telegraph—Copyright Sydney, November 2. In the Legislative Assembly, Mr Beid,, delivered, the Budget. The revenue for the year was £9,282,000, being £245,000 above the estimates. The principal increases were from lsnd *93,p00,. railways £61,000, Post Office.£ls,ooo, customs £57,000. The actual expenditure was £9,475,000, being £83,000 above the estimate. It will be necessary to increase the expenditure this year under various Heads, as the estimates will require £9 5 681.000, while the revenue could only be' estipiate^ at £9,433,000. Therefore he was regretfully compelled to increase the taxation. It was intended to reintroduce the measure doubling the probate duty, which the Legislative Council rejected last session. The balance would be obtainable by the imposition of three pence per pound on tea, retaining the duty on chickory, coffee, and cocoa, and the imposition nf £3 per ton on rice. The duty on sugar would be retained, while articles in the manufacture of which sugar was usedsuch as biscuits, jam, bottled fruits, confectionery," and preserves — would pay the duties enforced prior to June 30th.

The Premier declared that but for the bad season it would have been absolutely unnecessary to impose increased taxation. He had selected those duties which would not confute the federal que3tionl It was bis deliberate belief that Federation would be accomplished within 12 months. The new duties came as a surprise to commercial circles, but generally are well received. ' '■■'..

In the Assembly Mr Lyne said he would oppose the ; tea duty, but would say nothing against the others, which were an unauthorised appropriation of his own policy. If Mr Beid chose to be a Protectionist, so much the better for the. Opposition, so much the worse for the Premier's previous profession. A considerable section of the Freetrade party is dissatisfied.