Points from the Budget.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 5968, 10 August 1912, Page 4

Points from the Budget.

, The first Budget of'the Reform Government was delivored in the Ilouse of *• Representatives on .Tuesday evening -,,. the Minister of Finance (the Hon. James Allen). (The galleries were crowded with 'highly interested spectators.

The revenue last year was £11,032,544 and the e.\penditure £10,3-10,3158. The 'balance at credit in the Public Works Fund at June 30 last was £77f7,088. This includes loan money ; receivable amounting to £4.77,20(7. The -liabilities amounted to £1,1)49,349.

The gross public debt ia;'£81,363,913. The net debt is £82,193,310. Durir.gthe year the debt increased by t'3.5f75,(791. ■A modified system of loans to local bodies, is under consideration.

It is proposed to make the Legislative Council an elective bod'.' of 40 members, returnable by two constituencies—■the North Island and the South Island. The present members of the Legislative Council are to hold their seats until the expiration of the periods for which they were appointed. The second ballot is to be repealed and another method of election of members of the House of Representatives will be substituted.

Loans amounting to £3,298,6(16 arc falling due during the present financial year. The tc tal amount falling due up till March 31. 1919. is £23,-

The consolidation of short-dated debentures has given the Treasurer grave concern. The system of borrowing on short-dated debentures will be discontinued.

The powers of the Public Accounts Com/mitbee are to be extendi ' Hoth the C( nsolidated Fund and the Public Works Fund Estimates are to be submitted to this committer for advice.

Full details of the public expenditure will be laid before Parliament. The question of local government will be dcait with next session. The proceeds () f Crown land sales will be used for land settlement purposes, instead of being paid into the Consolidated Fund. Automatic telephone* will be installed in the four large centres during the next five years. The destruction of political patronape irj connection with the pu .lie service is to lx>'elTeeted by legislation. Appointments and promotions will be made by a commissioner, who will also liavo control of the ger.ornl organisation of the services. To attract vnung men to the service increased salaries will be paid during the firH year of service. The general mauagvr of the railways (.Mr T. Roynanel will retire in

•Innnary. Applications for the position will lie advertised in London.

An experiment is to be made with Som» cheaper form of construction for branch railways, without altering the gauge.

Continued efforts -will be made to bring about closer trade relations with Australia.

An olhcer of the Customs i/.-;.ail-ment will be sent to Loiulo, ->-afc guard Xew Zealand interests.

Closer settlement of the laud is lh,, most important plank i n the (lovernnient's platform. \ considerable Increase is to bo I'onlr in fhe graduated land tax. The L's per cent, additional tax now imposed on estates of I'4O,(KK) or more iiillb- applied to estates of CelO.Ouf) or more.

An improvement is the svsd m of lend valuation is proposed to distinguish between the value of land aijd the vaiue, of improvements. IVornen will ejualify for old' age pensions at 60 years. Faith.r j>uision benefits a re ])roposed. Stipendiary magistrates ate to bo placed on a more satisfactory footThe .annual reports of the High Comimesioner are to be published in future. The office is to b■■ t!-i ■■'. .: ly reorganised. A campaign against tuberculosis is proposed. Military detention is to 1 e .substituted for imprisonment in. connection with offences against, the Defence Act. The arbitration system is to be al-

tried. The. Supremo Court jnilir; will preside 0 /er the Court in the district in which he is resident. Permanent representatives of employers and of workers are to be replaced 'by expert representatives from each side. The secret ballot is provided for the decision of important questions, both by workers' unions and env lovers' associations. The workers' hoanes schemes are to be extended by empowering en.:.! .'ouncils to biorrow for the purpi ■ of building homes for workers. :V special sinking fund will l-e r.v tabhshwl to meet losses cans'd i v the destruction by fire of pnlili • killings.

Not less than the usual amourt will I>' |>rovided this year for opening up the back country a nd a-'sistimr nion"e.r ■c! tiers.

band settlement, on the d fcrr. '. p, met:t system is proposed. The lull land policy has not -. been placed before Parliament. Next session Parliament will be as':ed to "ive leaso-in-perpetuity tenants t' 1? option of purchase, band settlement t'-n ants will be given the same option. Everything possible will bo done to further land settlement.

An agricultural college is to be established is each island.

The Native land problem will be dealt with next session. Legislation' suggested by ,; tion Commission will lie deferred til!

next sess-ion. The revenue for the current v ,-r is estimated n t C10.9J8.401, ~,id •!-. ■ cxpendituro at f1(»,K611,(«f.5. It is proposed' to trr.r>''ei- ''"50.0(10 of the balance at March 31, 11)12. to tlie Public Works Fund.