N.S.W. POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1926, Page 4

N.S.W. POLITICS.

BALANCING THE BUDGET. SYDNEY, Aug. 20. There is much speculation ill political circles as to how the Premier and Treasurer (Mr Lang) proposes to balance his next Budget. The only increase is taxation which would receive the support of caucus would be a stiffening of the incidence on salaries over £7fi() a year, such as was proposed l.y Mr Lang when he was treasurer in the last Labour Government. Another suggestion is the increase of betting luxes in the metropolitan area. The licensing of starting price betting shops-, with the imposition of a betling tnket tiix cn such establishments, is sai,i also to be not without ils supporters.

In the meantime the Minister for Health (Mr Cami) is puzzling his brains to devise an equitable scheme, of financing the hospitals. Possibly the Government "'ill yield to the pressure of some of its supporters, and adopt tlie principle of the Golden Xiisket, especially as a special hospital levy, on top of the increased taxation that seems inevitable, would not be im-

monseiy popular. The Premier (Mr Lang) probably sighs sometimes for the lost happiness of his humbler days. Tie not only has to meet a storm of criticism outside the Party, and. no small measure of criticism within it, arising nut of some of the Government’s recent legislative and other nets, but it is declared that he has, in caucus, troubles which may be attended by something of a struggle. Every Labour Premier, of course, lias bis trials in caucus. Mr McGowen, Mr Holman, before he went over to the Nationalists, Mr Dooley, and others in this State have all had to face them. The forthcoming session is likely to lie a crowded and somewhat stormy one. The Opposi-

tion, for example, is not likely to allow the appointment of Mr ICay, former independent member, to the Mi at Board ic pass without ranking the most of it, especially as it lias the great hulk of the public, and not a few even in the Labour Party, behind it on this matter. Tf the Government is wise, it will leave alone any further industrial legislation for the end of its present term, i.ind try to recover some of the ground that it must obviously have lost in the country.