AUSTRALIA’S FINANCES

Evening Star, Issue 22142, 24 September 1935, Page 9

AUSTRALIA’S FINANCES

THE FEDERAL BUDGET KHISSiOHS IN TAXATION press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright CANBERRA, September 23. He Federal Budget was presented in. the House of Representatives to-night by the Treasurer, Mr R. Casey, who emphasised that the Government in- : tended to continue its policy of sound finance and the maintenance of economic stability. The revenue for the past year amounted to £61,702,482, and the expenditure to £60,991,277, leaving a surplus of £711,205, The estimated revenue for the current year, allowing for contemplated remissions of taxation and other reforms of relief, was £77,190,000 and the expenditure £77,173,000. Mr Casey said the Government ' intended to reduce the super tax on property income from 6 per cent, to 5 per cent., sales tax exemptions would be extended, and the excise duties on tobacco and cigarettes manufactured wholly from Australian leaf would be lowered. These remissions would amount to £510,000. There would, in addition, be partial restoration of the salaries of public servants and the staffs of the military forces and the navy, representing £90,000, while the allowances for Ministers and members of Parliament would he restored by a sum of £3,000. The Government estimated that the second year of the defence plan would absorb £7,302,000. Unemployment bad been reduced from 30 per cent, in 1932 to 16 per cent, at the present time. The Government’s grant for trade publicity abroad’would be increased to £25,000. Mr Casey announced a comprehensive plan for the development of aviation and better marketing facilities. The , Government would assist necessitous farmers and orchardists. MOTION OF CENSURE CANBERRA, September 23. Mr Forde, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives, this afternoon gave notice of paction of censure on the Government owing to'its failure to call Parliament together more than 39 days in 12 months, its failure to embark on a bold policy dealing with the unemployment problem on a national basis, its failure - to with the drift in the overseas •trade balance, and its failure to formulate a permanent plan for the relief . of primary producers. (Received September 24, at 11 a.m.) There is a 21 per cent, salary restoration for public servants. A bounty of 2s per case on oranges sent to the United Kingdom will be provided. An outstanding feature of the Budget is the big increase in the expenditure - for defence purposes,