TWO BUDGETS.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15314, 15 August 1923, Page 6

TWO BUDGETS.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

M A RESOLUTE PRIME MINISTER.''

By Telegraph.—Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Tuesday

In sharp contrast to the Opposition taunt of careless handling of the finances is the opinion expressed of Mr. Massey, by a leading Australian newspaper, in comparing his budget with that of Dr. Earle Page, the Commonwealth Treasurer. When the Federal Budget made its appearance last week, the Sydney Morning Herald, in a leading article, instituted some striking comparisons between it and the New Zealand Budget, of which it has already made very favourable comment. "Dr Page asks the taxpayer," says the journal, "to bear with the finances of the Commonwealth, as they are managed by the treasurer, since there is so small a field on which economycan be exercised.

"Yet, Mr. Massey, in New Zealand, following on an actual saving last, year of £3,735,000, expects to make further saving this year "of £2,203,000. Dr. Page, on a larger expenditure, told of a saving of £1,406,000 last.year, and an estimated further seving of £I,BO-4, 000 this year. "The Commonwealth will have reduced expenditure in two years by a sum somewhat below the reduction made by the New Zealand Government in its expenditure in one year. Was the New Zealand Government more spendthrift than the Commonwealth Government in the years immediately succeeding the war that it is enabled to make such large cuts in expenditure, or is it that the New Zealand Government is the more sesolute. The table which Dr. Earle Page prepared, showing in what fashion ordinary expenditure mounted after 1918-19 supports the latter position. For the something accomplished we are to be thankful, with the hope that, as Dr. Page becomes better acquainted with the expenditure of the Commonwealth, he may be able to use the pruningknife more vigorously."