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Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1922, Page 2

Somkonk has said that “finance is government and government is finance.” Folk in New Zealand will be disposed to agree with this aphorism, for the Dominion wa» never better governed than when its finances were in order. That is a truism. Mr Dooley, the Libor Premier of New South Wales has been putting forward his election policy fojr the coming IStajte elections. Politics in the Mother State are verymuch distraught. Mr Dooley is bidding high in consequence, and it is noticeable the newspapers are rending his policy. Although comparisons are said to be odious, it is interesting to note as giving point to the finances of New South Wales, that Mr McPherson the Victorian Treasurer, made a graphic comparison recently between the industrial and financial conditions of New South Wales and Victoria, and that the latter State has no unemployed with the exception of the unemployables, whilst unemployed in New South Wales is a grave national problem. He went on to say that a mia,n with a taxable income of £SOO paid as income tax in New South Wales £3l ss, in Queensland £2l 15s, and in Victoria £6 ss. It could thus be seen that State taxation in New South Wales was just five times that of Victoria. Had the Victorian Government imposed taxation on the per capita basis of New South Wales the State Government would have collected from the Victorian taxpayers a further sum of £4,700,00. New South Wales had 40,000 unemployed, whereas in Victoria with the exception of those who were nearly always unemployed or unemployable, they had none. “We have,” he added, “our .State coalmine, which, in common with other State enterprises throughout Australia is shut down for a good part of the time on account of strikes. If people have the idea that nationalisation of our industries totally prevents strikes, then these same people are considerably out in their estimates; for I think there have been more strikes at our State coalmine than ,at any other mine in Australia.” In conclusion, Mr M’Pherson said that there could be no rea.J Stato prosperity without economy and efficiency in administration, and he urged that that matter be prominently placed before the electors in the coming campaign. He also expressed his confidence that the election would restore sane government to Now South Wales, for, he emphasised, “if the people who really have a stake in this eounti-y and have its welfare at heart will get together, you c an have sound, liberal, democratic government that will faithfully consider the interests of all parties and give to .all your people employment and contentment. This can only be done, however, when the Liberals get together and each man and woman is prepared to make some sacrifice for the good of the country. I can assure you that if you got sound government which will keep your finances straight, and hasten the development of our wonderful country nobody will be better pleased than the people of Victoria.” The result of the New South Wales elections will be watched with keen interest throughout Australasia.