The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, JULY 27th, 1925. BUDGET STATEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, JULY 27th, 1925. BUDGET STATEMENT.

The Financial Statement is mu the document of interest it was in the days of the old Liberals when the Seddoii Government was pulling the country through and putting it on its feet, financially. Those were the days of self-reliance, when to propose a loan of even three-quarters of a million, Premier Seddon felt called upon to explain the position at great length. During the past year the public debt has increased by over six millions! That is half a million a month, and no apology is made for this galloping process. That it. is on the reckless side is borne home by the fact that within the- next seven years loans totalling nearly ninety ini 11 iotas will fall due! Does that not make you pause Mr New Zealand taxpayer and ask where the money is coming front ? Another appropriate question might be. seeing that this is election year, is Reform to he trusted with another three years’ tenure to go on piling up the debt ? Reform has never been equal to handling the finances of the country satisfactorily. It ] was the same in the pre-Seddon days. The Conservatives of those days under Sir Harry Atkinson landed New Zealand in financial troubles, and John Ballance had to come forward and pre-

scribe :i self-reliant policy. 11 is health, gave way all ton so.mi, and Richard John Sedilon had to stop into the breath, and early on. and further expand and expound the policy of Ihe Liberals whose genius uilh film lieu and land saved the good name of New /calami alml pill, the country in the forefront of all nations lor the time being. The Financial Statement this year was presented by .Mr Nosworthy "Ini was the acting Minister of !•'ill- - There are no bright passages about the document, which has a very departmental appearance In style and torn*. Mr Xns'vnrthy supplies some remarks “in conclusion/’ Enl'ort timitidy they are not very eonvineing. for there is no real effort to balance the budget. The .Minister advises care in not over-importing to affect the leading balance, lint he does not practice that care in departments where he might exercise control.. Ilis estimates foreshadow an increase from Customs, which is additional taxation, hut the worst feature is an increase proponed of nearly a million and \ half in departmental expenditure. There is no sign of the pruning knife, let air no the economy axe. which is so essential if the New Zealand Budget is to show a better position at the end of the current tinaueial year. It is at least satisfactory that Mr Nonworthy recognises that he may not borrow with ready facility at the present moment, but flic doleful tone indulged in, suggests lie would seek outside capita! expenditure ;ii, the first opportunity at all favorable. It is difficult to understand why the departmental expenditure should he allowed to soar higher and higher year after year. If wholesale retrenchment is not advisable, surely it could lie practised in a minor way. and spread over a parliamentary term of three sessions, the party in power could at least justify itself. The financial methods of Reform do not commend themselves, for a policy of drift has taken place, during which the party in power has proved r.ne<|iial to dealing with the situation in a remedial way. There arc proposals in the budget statement to d.nl with the ipie'-tion of land aggregation. One or two other modest points are made. Rut v.c are doubtful about the present government firing simer,' in the desire to prevent aggregation of land. The political history of the party does not give much eonlid .■me iii that direction. Really, very little of a. practical nature is promised in regard to necessary reforms. and while the party m power i- governed as at present by the diehard Conservative elements, the country will look in vain lor real political refoi in. An infusion of a national spirit such as the .Liberals could bring in will he the best panacea for the political ills the Reform party lias created during its term of office.