Political.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 August 1913, Page 3

Political.

Points from The Budget.

The Financial Statement shows beyond doubt that the freehold, policy of the Reform Government will be steadily advanced, and that an extension of the optional tenure principle will be brought forward this season. A Public Works loan of £1,750, 000 is to be raised in London. The Land Settlement Finance Act is to be amended materially this session. The Stamp Department shows a revenue exceeding £1,000,000 for the first time in its history. A total of over 337,000 acres of Crown lands have been made available for settlement during the year. . Proposals dealing with Local Government Reform will, if possible, be circulated this session. The land and income tax ex" ceeded the estimate by £91,630, and last year's receipts by £81,628 Private enterprise is to be permitted to engage in branch railway construction, subject to conditions. An area of 50,819 acres has been purchased during the year, at a value of £428,045, under the Lands for Settlement Act. A Consolidating Customs Bill, to make the law more modern, more equitable, and its administration more elastic, is to be introduced this session. The Consolidating Arbitration Act will enable all disputes to be settled without the present necessity of disputants being registered unions before the Court can act. The estimated revenue for 1913----14 is £11,789,502. The estimated expenditure is set down at £11,679,674, leaving a balance available for Supplementary Estimates of £621,879. A comparison between 30th, 1912, and March 31st, 1913, shows remarkable financial improvement. In 1912 there was a deficit of £670,876, but nine months later the corresponding figures show a balance of £1,799,511. There will be a new scale of income taxation this year. Smaller incomes will pay slightly less, but larger [incomes more. The revenue for the year was £11,734,022, being £785,618 more than the estimate, and £701,478 more than the previous year's revenue. Correspondence is still proceeding with the Admiralty upon important details of the naval policy. The Government's policy will recognise the necessity for one control, but will give the New Zealand Parliament a more direct responsibility, and the people a better opportunity for service.

A petition from 88 workers employed on the North Auckland Railway, protesting against the introduction of the contract system, and asking for the continuance of the co-operative system, was presented to the House on Tuesday, by Mr J. G. Coates (Kaipara).