NATIONAL ECONOMY
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S , PLANO.
’ LUXURY VOTES ARE TO GO. / . ' u /
SYDNEY, August 9.
The whole- range of the Commonwealth Government’s . expenditure 'is again under review in order to bring about the saving of necessary to enable the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) to give effect to his undertaking to the Premiers’ Conference. Ajs the expenditure has (already been cut very severely, it is no easy matter, to discover other avenues where economy, is possible, and the task facing the Ministers is a heavy one. It- will probably take the Cabinet a fortnight to reach finality. Departmental votes, special appropriations, and votes for miscellaneous services are being carefully • overhauled, but details of the outs that are inevitable are not available. The Prime Minister has admitted that .many of the cuts will be “of an unpopular but he has, pointed, put that the Government can .no longer provide! services which the taxpayer cannot afford. The pruning knife will he applied mainly, to “luxury” expenditure; ' or what may 'be so termed during a period, of depression.
Bounties for iron, wine, and steel products, cotton, gold, and sulphur last year’ absorbed more than £400,000 ) and in view of the benefits which these industries are deriving from exchange .considerable reductions in the items mentioned are bound to be made. The ordinary' votes of departments have been reduced in two years . from £2,950,000 to £2,366,000, but- still further reductions -will be .necessary during the current year. It is likely that the old age and, .invalid, pensions scheme will lie thoroughly oyerhauiliid in the light of the knowledge that mqny : people are drawing pensions but are not morally entitled to them. Then again, the cost, of living has fallen, and «in some quarters it is suggested that the Government would be justified ,in reducing the pensions accordingly. The expenditure on the mat-, enmity allowance.has been reduced from £642 ; 000. to £378,000, and there is no certainty that a further cut will not. be : made in this grant. *, , War, pensions, which last year absorbed . £7,449,000, present a grave problem, and -any Government, bold enough to interfere with. .them- would caluse bitterness. - However, it has beep suggested that many soldiers who. are receiving pension's are now in circumstances where such a grant is -not needed. 1 Returned .men who have made good ip spite of their , disabilities will protest that they should not he .penalised for doing go, hut .it .may he pointed out to them that these' .are not ordinary times. A complete . review ,of the war. pensions system is. not, uplikely, and the' Government may appeal to the returned met), to suggest. pome way, put.;, The .hill is far, ■heavier . than the Government can afford- to pay. ■ : y ~. ..
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Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1932, Page 6
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453NATIONAL ECONOMY Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1932, Page 6
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