CHIFLEY’S THIRTY MILLION SURPLUS AND SAVINGS

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1948, Page 5

CHIFLEY’S THIRTY MILLION SURPLUS AND SAVINGS

CANBERRA, June 4.

The Australian Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. J, B. Chifley, revealed in the House of Representatives that the Federal revenue for this financial year will exceed his budget estimate by £46,000,000. He said that the expenditure will exceed his estimate by £16,000,000, leaving a surplus over his estimate of £30,000,000. He attributed greatly increased revenue to the high wages and full employment, and the accelerated issue of tax assessments.

Taxation experts describe the figures as sensational, though not unexpected. These experts say they leave Mr Chifley with no excuse for withholding substantial cuts in the rates of income tax. The Federal Government has intimated that, it will cut expenditure on dollar imports n the next financial year from £83,000,000 to £63,000,000 —a drop of nearly 25 per cent. Senior Ministers say the Government has decided on more dollar cuts because Britain’s dollar deficit is still drifting.

Chifley Rejects Demand to Suspend Minister

CANBERRA, June 4. The Opposition in the Federal House voiced a demand to suspend the Minister of External Territories. Hon. E. J. Ward, because of allegations against him arising from the trial of J. S. Garden, who was sentenced to imprisonment for forging a document connected with the New Guinea timber lease. The Opposition asked also for a Royal Commission to go into allegations of Garden. In a joint statement the Leader of the Opposition (Mi- R. G. Menzies) and the Country Party Leader (Mr A. W. Fadden) said that in their opinion Mr Ward» should not be left in control of his department while a judicial investigation of his administration of it was proceeding. They did not wish to express an opinion upon the guilt or innocence of any person connected with pending litigation. Another Liberal member (Mr A. G. Cameron) said it was a time-hon-oured practice when a Minister’s administration was questioned, for him to relinquish office pending an inquiry. He suggested that sunply should be refused until Mr Ward either resigned or was suspended from the Cabinet. Mr Ward entered the House during the debate and hurriedly conferred with Mr Chifley. He did not speak, but interjected heatedly: “I am not afraid of any inquiry. I will ben cleaned up before it is finished. You know my hands are tied.” Mr Chifley rejected the Opposition demands. He said: “I am not prepared to take the word of a convicted criminal or of any larrikin lawyer. I am satisfied as to .Mr Ward’s complete honesty.” Big Stick Talk ! SYDNEY, June 4. The Federal Government will be asked by the Sydney branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union to deregister doctors who refuse to take part in the free medicine scheme.

The State president of the Waterside Workers’ Federation (Mr T. Nelson) said that the Government did not hesitate to deregister watersiders who refused to work. It should take similar action, against doctors who refused to obey the la\y.