"RIGID ECONOMY."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 994, 8 December 1910, Page 5

"RIGID ECONOMY."

N.S.W. LABOUR FINANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrieM. Sydney, December 7. In tho course of his Budget speech, the Premier, Mr. M'Gowen, said the year opened with a credit balance of .CG37.G77, and closed, taking all services into consideration, with iv surplus of .£089,766. The railway earnings gave a net return of £i Us. 7d. per cent on tho capital expended, and the tramways £i 10s. 6d. per cent. During the year tho railways arid the tramways carried over two hundred and fifty-four million passengers without a single fatality. The Harbour Trust proposals include largely-increased berthing accommodation for vessels. It is proposed during the current year to financo the Closer Settlement Fund by ,£350,000 from loans, making J29G3.000 available. Practically tho whole amount will be expended on the acquisition of land and the contingent expenses of settling people on it. The total advances made to settlers so far amount to ;£1,3G2,853, of which sum ,£790,752 is still to be repaid. . ■ ' The public debt at the end of last year' amounted to ,£90,807,416. This was reduced during the year to the extent of ,£282,613. . ■ ■ The estimated return from the Commonwealth for the year would be i£1,370,00i less than last year, and it would be necessary to practice the most rigid economy to prevent tho revenue falling short of thq expenditure, ■ BUSINESS IN PARLIAMENT. (Reo. December 7, 9.15 p.m.) Sydney! December 7. In th.e Legislative Assembly Mr/Becby, Minister for Labour, promised an amendment to the Early Closing Bill to enable, Shops to open on Giyristmns Jjve, Tho Premie'r,- Sir. M'Qowen, stated that the Government would consider the quesof taking steps.to remqve certain powers possessed by the Railway Commissioner which the lata Sir Henry Parkes had said were greater tlian were possessed by Parliament itself. Mr. M'Govveh informed Mr. Wade, Leader of tho Opposition, that the immigration vote on the Estimates would be equal to that ■of last year, all of which had not been used.