BUDGET ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1909, 30 November 1918, Page 1

BUDGET ITEMS.

In his Budget statement on Tuesday, Sir Joseph Ward foreshadowed a possible decrease in taxation. “I do not think (be said) I can be accused of being unduly optimistic if I say that the prosperity of the /rountry is not likely to be adversely affected after the war, and that in consequence it will be then possible, by a review of our whole financial position, to reduce in some measure the heavy taxation which necessity has forced upon the country, autLwhich has been so cheerfully borne by the taxpayers. The vital importance" of reducing taxation and charges in some branches of (he public service, whore we can legitimately do so, must commend itself to every one, including those in (lie ranks of the workers as well as those who arc employers of labour. All classes of the community are vitally concerned in furthering (he advancement of our country after the war troubles have completely ceased, and it is essential to the welfare of the Dominion that agricultural, industrial, commercial, and social life should be promoted and worked under the freest conditions possible.’’ The .National Provident Fund has accumulated funds amounting to £190,000, with a membership of 120,000. Maturity claims amounting to £17,545 wore dealt with during the year ended March 31st, 1918, of which sum £13,612 was due to friendly societies’ members, and £3,933 to ordinary contributors. An amount of £4,500 was paid in the past year on account of the halfconlrilnitions concession to contributors on active service, some 3,000 members having joined Ike Forces. The malernily-benelil system operating through the friendly societies is working satisfactorily, and the officials of the various societies are co-operating readily with the department in carrying out the necessary requirements under the Act in order to ensure prompt payment of (he heneiils to (heir members.

According to the Minister for Finance, the statistical returns for 1917 show Himl‘ (lie value of goods of German origin imported into New Zealand for Hie year was £2,31(1; and it should he explained (hat this sum is made up of presents and supplies seal (it prisoners of war. of German scientific apparalus for universities which was in stock in Hie United Kingdom prior to Hie war, and which could not he obtained elsewhere, of dyes (being parts of cargo of interned steamers), and of electric and other machinery from British possessions which were urgently required for the upkeep of established industries, and which could not be substituted by British made machines owing to the difficulties of exportation from the United Kingdom. Twenty-seven industrial disputes occurred during the year ended March 31st. .Several of these, Hie Budget states, were of a trivial nature, involving the cessation of work by a number of men for a few hours or minutes, or refusal to work certain .overtime. In twelve instances it was found necessary to institute proceedings for breaches of (he War Regulations, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. etc. Tin l principal eases concerned eoa l-miners, Welling! on gasworks employees, Auckland freezingchamber hands, and Wellington coastal steamers. In view of the abnormal conditions created by the war, both employers and workers generally may be congratulated upon (he manner in which the industries of the Dominion have been so loyally maintained under difficult circumstances.

There lias been a steady depletion of eoal spades throughout the Doin'mion during the year, and Hie greatest difficulty was experienced in securing sufficient tonnage to supplement the output from our mines and so meet the requirements of New Zealand coal-consumers. The shortage, Sir Joseph Ward says, was most felt in hard-coal supplies, and this was met by encouraging a more extensive use of lignite coals for the less important services. It can be stated with credit to (bo country that up to date every enterprise concerned has readily lent itself to the directions of the Minister, and this attitude lias largely contributed to 1 he fact that no activity has, so far, ceased to operate for lact' of coal, although in some instances stocks have been nearly depleted. The Government propose* that during the remiss the Industries and Commerce Committee should hold sittings in various parts of the country, with the object of making enquiries and taking evidence from persons who are well qualified to express an opinion as to the direction in which legislative action should be taken for the purpose of promoting the local industries of the Dominion, In this way it is

hoped to obtain the very best advice possible before bringing 1 in legislation in connection with this very important matter. The State colleries, according to the Minister of Finance, produced 265,267 tons of coal in 1917-18, as against 277,845 tons the previous calendar year; while the profit on Stale coal business was £24,466, as against £18,521 for the previous financial year. These results are considered satisfactory, in view of the low rates at which coal is supplied to (he public. The proportion of deaths from accidents at coalmines during 1917 was lower than during any year, with two exceptions, since coal-mining commenced in the Dominion, the proportion of

deaths being 1 per 1,000 persons employed and 1.93 per million tons raised. The total output of coal from the mines of the Dominion for the year 1917 was 2,068,419 tons, a decrease of 188,716 tons as compared with the previous year.

The work' of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Department, which was inaugurated by (he Government in August, 1915, to assist discharged soldiers to settle down in the civil life, is steadily increasing, and the register now contains over twenty thousand names. Quite a

number of partially disabled soldiers who arc unable to resume their old occupations are (according to (he Budget statement) learning new trades at technical schools and in factories, workshops, etc. These men are receiving financial assistance from the Government over and above their pensions, and the trades in which they are being trained include tailoring;, bootmaking, wiremattress making, watchmaking, elect Heal engineering, vulcanising, hairdressing, motor mechanic;., etc. A few men are also being (rained in different branches of agriculture on the Stale farms. The reduction of the days of racing by something like one-third is relicctod in (he falling off in (he toia.lisator revenue lax, although Sir Joseph Ward says the amount put

through machine has, in proportion, more than held its own with that of former years, taking into account the reduced number of racing days. Hie revenue received being £213,932, as against £257,-139 for 1!1K)-I7.

The Public Trustee now holds a credit balance of £53,32!) on account of Hie insurance of public buildings. The claims against (he special sinking fund established to meet losses on public buildings destroyed by lire amounted to £8,030 la.-d year, the annual Government contribution of £10,00(1 being paid over as usual.