The Guardian And Evening Star, with which Ls m corporated the West, Coast Times FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1932 THE “DULL” BUDGET.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which Ls m corpora ted the West, Coast Times FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1932 THE “DULL” BUDGET.

How English has been the reception •of the British Budget. The cable eews stated that lobby opinion was that “it was one of the dullest 011 I record. let' the Budget recorded an . achievement that all the world lias marvelled at. Not only was the ! Budget balanced, but a small surplus was produced, at a time when Britain passed through a sfelir$ f elir of the greatest fimßiciu! dislocation ill its .history, Yst we nre n'wkod to believe that the Budget was “dull.’ 1 New Zonlnnd would not feel depressed at this juncture were Air Downie Stewart to announce even the possibility of an early balanced .Budget. Probably what caused the depressed feeling at Home was the absence of a reduction in the beer tax. 'l’he Englishman is reputed to love his beer, and British beer has a world reputation, ft was hoped to lie possible to reduce the price a penny a pint, hut the hopes were not realised. Has this fact created that “dull” feeling in the lobby? Howover. consumers of beer as they dispose of their pints ran feel wo me satisfaction that an extra penny has gone into the Treasury, and that .satisfaction together witli the internal glow resultant from British hops well brewed. might well lift the “dull” feeling off the nation, ami the people lie able once more to face the taxation in the same spirit as Mr Snowdents levy was met. Tin* Budget it was expected would do more for Empire produce, hut apart from sugar (when the extra duty goes to the British producers) there is not any fresh list. This has been left for the Ottawa Conference, where Great Britain will no doubt be able to do a little bargaining, so that all the advantages may not be with the ottspring. but some relief also for the Motherland. The achievement of balancing the Budget, brought much capital into the country, a flattering tribute to the nation’s credit. The Government proposes to manage its exchange business by cfie creation of and equalisation account, and so avoid violent currency fluctuations. Uno bundled and fifty millions are to ne borrowed for the purpose of a hacking m British currency, and this may take the place of a banking by the gout standard. Labour is anxious for more details on this point, and wishes to know whether the Banks or the I reasurv will control tin* exchange. I Imre was enquiry also as to the level of values at which st-aliug was to he inn ;uta i ned. Probably 111 ibis pro- j posal is the germ cf a national tain-- l ing S( heme to stabilise the currency i without Inr iding gold. The linaneial j a nib , Pies have Ira 11 deliberating on | sunn' proposal to meet the national | position, and 11 1 i-ugL' W'lion may lie l!„. first, -top to that ei d. The Budget for the year now entered upon. is ora'tieaMv the same as the Sno-V' lf 'ii si 0l enient. which Air Chamberlain 10- |',. lT od to a . “a model of sound and

S;|||i' i !'*• ' •’i or< ‘ ~r:n' ~r In- 1 1 ik1 1 "Hi'" i'H.l'iHv for !t ni'i'l,.i:i t <> Ini l;i i Ilii yen' "i lit 11" nioro j|i:,)i line.- •n:irl"i s of :i m i ll’on. If j s not ti v< r, im!•<=-it'>niornm on tli" lilffrf. ji <r1 1 ii-; rill.,' ''l for l'"Vi"UI" :!l'd oxppndil'tiro. Imt tli.-iv is .■ vi. I«‘i m t• of dosin' not. to uvordo 'I I"' returns Imsl vem ;i j»j »< *:• red to I"' l,i,i'ii..!iien,d mid 'I ins In In* soon

whether the country can maintain its volume of taxation to replenish the national fundis. Big and large, we should say that the proposals and record put before the House of Commons, was anything but dull, but on the contrary was a magnificent tribute to the people and the nation who rose so splendidly to the needs of the times.