THE FEDERAL BUDGET

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1929, Page 2

THE FEDERAL BUDGET

(Otago Daily Times). The people of Australia will probably not be looking for felicitations over the blessing bestowed upon them in tne shape of two Federal Budgets within a. few months in the same financial year. No doubt the Budget that was brought down 'by Dr Earle Page, with its provisions for making up a heavy deficit, contributed to the defeat of the Bruce Admmistraton at the recent elections.

Mr E. G. Theodore, the new Federal Treasurer, has now submitted proposals which will be regarded as better or worse than those of his predecessor according to the viewpoint from which they are considered. Undoubtedly they will elicit many a groan. Mr Theodore estimated that additional revenue to the extent of two millions must be raised to baiafice the Federal finances, and fresh taxation is the keynote of his Budget proposals. Nearly half the amount is to come from a super-tax on incomes and the balance from increased dut-

The Customs duties are to be raised in respect of cigarettes, cigars, spirits and other things presumably regarded afi luxuries, and the height of the tariff wall is to be increased in respect of various othe'i- imported articles which scarcely come within toe category of luxuries but are ranked as competitors with Australian products. The imposition of prohibitive duties on stockings would appear to be a mnttor upon which the women of Australia, may feel n disposition to have a word with Mr Theodore.

Upon beer there is to be a reduction of the recently increased duly, but it may be assumed that beer is regarded as the working man’s beverage and quite removed from the luxury list. The new tariff duties have been described as a .stagerring blow to British industry, and the purpose behind them is, of course, in conformity with the idea of making the Commonwealth a self-supporting community and with the cry for the preservation of Australia as a country for the Australians. In the process of the realisation of this blissful state of things the Australian people must, of course, be prepared to find he cost of living increase, as it certainly will, and they will' he optimistic indeed if they expect the new taxation to help to solve tiie problem- of- unemployment. t Mr Theodore’s ■ Budget contrasts curibusly with the .speech, delivered in t’ne House ; of Lords a few days ago by Lord Beaverbiook on the' subject of Free Trade within the Empire—a speech which it was suggested should have been addressed to the dominions—and with the manifesto of the recently formed Empire Economic Union, which is interested in the advancement of the recently formed Empire Economic Union, which is interested in the advancement of the ideal of the free interchange of Empire products,

One thing the Labour Government of the Commonwealth has not ventured tc do, It will not levy the five per cent, tax on amusements, which, when'it was proposed by Dr Earle Page, aroused the fierce resentment of. the theatrical interests, nor would it have been expected to do so in view of the theatrical backing which ti.e party received at the elections. But what the theatre proprietors escape paying has to be provided by the community in some other way. The people of Australia may possibly have some deep-seated pride in a Federal Government which budgets for an expenditure of nearly £65,0 0,000, but they are to be commiserated upon the increased burden of taxation which they are being asked to cany.