Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28th 1918. A SUB-NORMAL BUDGET.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28th 1918. A SUB-NORMAL BUDGET.

Considering that a Great War is just ended, and that the Dominion for more than four years lias been playing a man’s part, the Financial Statement which Si r Joseph Ward had the honour to deliver to the House on I uesclay night, may be considered a most satisfactory review of the country’s accounts and its financial position. In the extraordinary circumstances of the occasion with the heavy expenditure for war on one hand, and the dislocation of trade and shipping which affects so vitally internal developments and the export of primary products, the public would not have had occasion for alarm if the Budget had disclosed abnormal* financial conditions with extraordinary proposals to recoup the situation. The contrary is actually the case. Such abnormal conditions as exist financially are all to the advantage of the country—buoyant revenue, large surplus, internal solvency. There is therefore no call for special finance or any particular manipulations to relieve o'r otherwise redeem a non-existent stringent situation. • Tn point of fact, the Budgcfi? may be regarded as quite sub-normal, in the light of the times. The financial position of the country is so satisfactory because revenue lias exceeded expectations, and expenditure has been below the estimated amount. The former shows a gain of about three millions and the latter a saving of about a million, so that instead of n surplus estimated at £1,200,098, there is an actual surplus of £5,085,934. This result must he very gratifying to the Minister of Finance whose duty it is to keep a strong finance—and Sir Joseph Ward has done excellently. Of the particular items of expenditure, Customs shows a decrease of upwards of half a million on the previous year, but is still more than £400,000 better than was expected. Tho decline in the imports accounts for this, and the changed conditions now will speedily assist in recovering lost ground. Railways, too, show a decline on the previous year but is above the estimate, *■ and this branch of revenue will sliow very quickly a response to the relieved conditions. The other items of decrease are not material., On the other hand, the increases show substantially in land and income tax, nearly a two million increase whjch is ab.ove the estimate substantially. These brief references show how elastic are the conditions under which the Dominion faces the i!nimediate future. Wherrl there have been decreases these will be made good and former increases should lie inoro than maintained. This buoyant prospect has eliminated any necessity for applying additional methods of taxation. The natural increase under peace conditions should meet the situation, and this is a. position which must he regarded as most gratifying. The expenditure must rise naturally as month by month the war debt, and its commitments have increased. Tho estimate was £16,082,702, and the actual expenditure, £15,120,287. The permanent appropriations show an increase gin the former year in the main caused by growing interest charges and war pensions. Of the annual appropriations, railways and postal department show increases; as do, also‘Education, now at over a million and a half. Public Works out of the Consolidated Fund did not reach a modest one hundred thousand, while Mines expenditure was only £26,613. Eonomieal methods must have been very rigorous in both these departments, hut greater olustieity will be looked for now. Tho Pub-

lie Works Fund was administered in an equally economical strain, ami was kept within the actual appropriation of less than a- million and a half. As regards tho war, New Zealand's bill continues to mount, up, and to the ena of September has reached £51,400,000. It is satisfactory'to find tMt the Minister is asking (in additionto an unexhausted authority of £13,000,000), for further authority of only £70,000,000. Sir Joseph Ward doubts if it will bo necessary to exercise this full authority, so that there is reason to bolievo the total war debt of the Dominion will be kept under £75,000,000. The proposals for the future are on modest lines. Tlie sub-normal note struck in the Budget continues to the end. The Minister elects to pursue a safe and strong course till the country’s full obligations in regard to tho war are ascertained. [But while this prudence ip shown, Sir Joseph is able to inform the country that no new taxation is necessary at this stage. Having his finger on the financial pulse it is cheering to know that .the general prosperity of the country is not going-to be affected adversely after the war, and lie is looking forward to being able to review the incidence of taxation with the object of reducing it in some measure. So far ns loans falling duo are concerned, next, year is one of the lightest the country has to face. This will ease the financial strain, more particularly as the bulk of the money is repayable in the Dominion and will not dislocate the country’s finance. Altogether the Financial Statement is a document, of unusual interest, very gratifying to the taxpayer and very satisfactory to the country as a whole that New Zealand in matters of finance accupies a strong In fact an envjable—posltion,

Under the Budget proposals it is intended to ask authority for a loan of £200,000 to provide funds for forestry and afforestation purposes. Part of the scheme is to establish State sawmills, anj naturally a. wooded district such as tlie West Coast is particularly interested in such a proposal. A spocialDepartniont is to bo sot up to direct •tlie work, and this district should be nlert and participate in any benefits to be derived, ns it should be watchful in seeing that a flourishing industry is not restricted unduly by harrassing regulations of a character to impede tho practical working of the forests. So far as .reafforestation is concerned there should he an early demand for attention. to the depleted hush lands which are not being utilised for any other purposes. Fahikis country which is practically barren for pastoral purposes, might well he used for tre P planting. Plantations might as well flourish there, where at. present, only scrub holds sway. So far as can he gathered the North Island is receiving the greaterattention in regard to tree planting, but, the claims of the South Island are no less important and should not be neglected. It seems to be a case of each district looking after itself, or the favoured places are likely to receive al! the attention. In regard to the new Department it has been given out that ■the restrictive, regulations arc likely to work hariiK T(fr'lluL < wvvri»i]liug industry, and for thsorf?" idstv-rthe whole doVelopmect :;h'.mi id be watched very closely. The matter is one tor special attention in Westland where the district is most intimately concerned.

During the prevalence of the current epidemic it has been remarked how particularly useful the local ambulance has been. On many occasions previously it has been nr great service and rendered very useful value, hut just now it has c-omc more directly under notice, and has been daily, in fact in hourly use. There is tho suggestion abroad now that a move should be made in the direction of acquiring a motor ambulance. The times are, advancing always, and the petrol is the popular transport power. The ambulance here has to serve a wide range of country, and as a means to saving time over long distance runs into the country, a motor propelled vehicle would have its special advantages. At a. time like the present it would be specially serviceable owing to the time saved in transport, which might lie invaluable in the case of patients seriously affected. Indeed, generally with regard to accidents etc., time is often of great importance —the speedier the means of transit, the better for the comfort and convenience of the patient, A motor ambulance wouldbe of service in the case ol a sudden call to South Westland, but there again it would he necessary to have a system of motor bridges to ensure quick uninterrupted traffic; but as mentioned the other day, that would not be a costly undertaking and does not prohibit such a scrvico being utilised. However, the general question of a motor ambulance for local and district use seems to be in many peoples’ minds, and it is likely the idea will take concrete shape soon, and something practiea be attempted.