AUSTRALIAN BUDGET.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1919, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN BUDGET.

Sydney, October 14 Tilt enormous war debt which Australia now carries—something, over 000,000—overshadowed the whole of the Federal Bridget, which was presented to Parliament last week. The chief considerations of the Treasurer consist in finding money to meet the annual interest bill of on the war debt, the .£5,500,000 for pensions which is now an annual liability, and very many millions which must be found for a year or two for repatriation. Thus, there was little -money to spare for anything except carrying on Ihe ordinary business of the country. However, one or two items in the Estimates are interesting. - ’ ' ' '

When Mr Hughes was strenuously campaigning in Queensland on the second referendum on conscription, be was assaulted at Warwick by hoodlums, and bespattered ' with, eggs, and the police iii that lawless State on that occasion afforded him no real protection. So he created what he called the Federal Police, whose ostensible purpose was to do any work required by the AttorneyGeneral’s Department, but really were to guard Commonwealth interests in Queensland, where the Government was very hostiife to the Federal body. The .Estimates now propose that this handful of police shall become the “ Commonwealth Investigation Service,” with a separate organisation in each Slate, and a headquarters administration in Melbourne. They are to be mostly detectives, and it is supposed that they are to form a sort of secret service.

Provision is also made lor a “ Pacific Islands Branch ” of the Prime Minister’s Department. This is understood to mean that the mandateover certain German islands held by Australia is to be administered by the Prime Minister. The Federal territories of Northern Territory, Canberra, and Papua are administered by the Home and Territories Department, but German New Guinea and the adjoining islands are to be a separate organisation. ’ ■' - !

So far as the allotment of moneys is concerned, the only notable’proposal is the expenditure of. much increased Turns dn : the aviation school, and the development of .fly- s ing; Details of 'the' - GdveVnmerit’s ‘ ’proposals are awaited. ! The Government has formally stated that it is going to proceed with the building of the Federal Capital at Canberra—much to the chagrin of Melbourne—but nothing appears on the Estimates for these expensive works."