DRASTIC ECONOMIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 7

DRASTIC ECONOMIES

PROBLEM FOR AUSTRALIA LOAN COUNCIL DISCUSSION REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE SOCIAL SERVICE PAYMENTS [By Telegraph—Pre’® Association— Copyright] Received May 24, 8.15 p.m. MELBOURNE, May -1. The Loan Council sub-committec on Saturday pr.pared a drastic report indicating further taxation, a reduction in the payment on social services, with a review of the reductions at present permitted. , . The Scullin inflation scheme was dismissed as providing no remedy for ths country’s position. These conclusions will be presented to the premiers’ conference on Monday. Messrs Hill and Hogan’s attitude on Saturday indicated to Mr Scullin, who attended, that the Federal Government. eonld no longer isolate itsel. and ignore the financial expert’s recommendations. , ~ j The sitting, which lasted all day, ended without result, and the council adjourned till after the premiers coufeiencc. . Saturday’s discussion was said to tie overshadowed by the effects, of the •New South Wales default and Mr Lang’s refusal to face the need for financial restoration. The treasurers of the other five States are convinced that the general position cannot be redeemed unless New South Wales is brought into line. An expert committee, was appointed to prepare a plan for balancing the Commonwealth and State Budgets over a period of years. It includes the Commonwealth Statistician, Mr C. H. Milkens- Mr L. F. Giblin, Tasmanian Statistician; Professor D. B. Copland, of Melbourne University; Professor Melville, and Professor Shann, adviser to the Bank of New. South Wales. The Commonwealth Auditor-General, Mr C. J. Cerrutty, in his annual report, which was presented to Parliament recently, urges a thorough revision of pensions; invalid’ and war pensions., namely, £20,000,000 a year, absorbs one- • third of the Commonwealth’s revenue. War pensions are on a wholly unjustifiable scale, says the report. Hundreds of men who are suffering from no physical disability are drawing these as well as ordinary pay. Old age and invalid pensions are being paid to two-fifths of the women in Australia over the age of 60 and to men over the age of 75, irrespective of whether or » not they have led dissolute and lawless lives. Thus thrifty people are called upon to contribute by taxation to people often unworthy of assistance. TRANSPORT REGULATIONS. GOVERNMENT AND SENATE. Received May 24, 8.25 p.m. CANBERRA, May 24. K The Government has re-issued the Transport Regulations, which the Senate twice disallowed, governing preference to Waterside Federation members. SYDNEY ECONOMIES. CIVIC SERVICE SALARIES. SYDNEY/- May 23. Retrenchment and further salary reductions in the civic services are fore shadowed. Reform aidermen propose to investigate every department of the City Council with the object of discovering how further economies can be effected. Many dismissals are regarded as inevitable. AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE. SIR G. FULLER’S OPINION. SYDNEY, May 23. Sir George Fuller, upon his return from London, said that he had the fullest faith in Australia’s future. He was confident that there would be an early return to prosperity. Practical help from Great Britain would be forthcomcoming directly evidence was shown that Australians were determined to pull together. Mr Lang’s recent default had vitally affected the State’.-, aiedit in London,

LABOUR AND SENATE. GRAVE INFERENCES. SYDNEY, May 23. The Telegraph says: Grave inferences that the Government, which is considering referendum proposals, may move for the aboltion of lhe Senate protrude in some vigorous comments by Mr Scullin qn the Senate’sdisallowance of further regulations under the Transport Works Act. A special meeting of the Executive Council Ve-enacted th' l Government regulations giving preference on the waterside to Federatioi. members. These will be in force for some days as the Senate does not meet until Wednesday. Declaring, that the Senate has po policy except to checkmate the House of Representatives and the Government and that the regulations which it dis allowed were intended by the Government to maintain peace and order and an equitable distribution of work on the waterfront, Mr Scullin said: “The duty to govern rests with the Govern ment, but if the Senate continues t«» exercise its powers excessively and perversely, as in this case, merely negativing the work of the House of Representatives and the Gove’nmcnt with out itself having authority to act, then the regulations of administration and indeed government become impossible If the Senate is determined to block legislation, it will greatly strengthen the already strong case for its own abolition.”