AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 195, 24 August 1901, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BUDGET. 13y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Adelaide, Aug. 23. In the Assembly the Treasurer delivered his Budget speech. The revenue last year was .£2,821,000, and the expenditure A‘2,810,000, leaving a deficit of -C10,859. The revenue for the current year is estimated at .02,585,000, including .£612,000 to be returned by the Commonwealth, and the expenditure at .02,579,000. It is expected that the year will end with a surplus of a little over .0(100. In the Budget the Treasurer said he considered it safe to look for a sevenbushel harvest. During the last four years there had been a steady increase in ~he producing sources, and but for the war and the Royal visit expenditure, he would have had a large surplus. lie expressed a fear that Federation would prove much more expensive than was anticipated.

Melbourne, August 23. Mr Barton, in reply to a question, said the Queensland Premier’s remarks regarding New Guinea convoyed a misleading impression. On behalf of the Commonwealth, lie lias’refused to take financial responsibility until the question of administration is settled. Through Lord llopctoun, ho informed Mr Chamberlain that New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland were favorable to Federal control of New Guinea, and as the expenditure involved would be .£22,000 yearly, be had asked if in the present state of tlic Commonwealth finances the British Government were prepared to find .27000 of the amount of lapsed subsidy covering maintenance of the steamer, The reply had not yet been) received. lie gavo an assurance that nothing would be done without Parliament's consent being obtained.