The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1913. THE BUDGET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 79, 7 August 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1913. THE BUDGET.

The Budget introduced by the Hon. James Allen last night is, from many .' points .of view, a satisfactory statement of the Dominion's finance. That the actual revenue is greater for the year just ended by £701,478 is evidence of continued prosperity and ability to bear burdens. The actual expenditure, however, continues to grow even more rapidly than the increased revenue, and the excess for the year as compared with the previous year amounted to no less than £741,670. | ! The increases are principally in the! annual appropriations tor working rail-1 ways £365,424; defence £103,397; Post and Telegraphs Department £80,245; and education £71,994, Permanent appropriations (including interest, sinking fund, pensions, etc.,) account for £165,754 of the total increase. The gross public debt, despite all hopes, anticipations and non-borrow-jing resolutions, continues to grow apace, and now reaches the very handsome total of £9O, 060, 763, of which £5,706,850 was added in the year under review. With loans falling due ■between the present and the year 1920, and the continued necessity for further borrowing for public works, it does not appear that we are likely to become much more self reliant in the near future, though we may at

least endeavour to be more economical. Steady and gratifying improvement is noted in that most commercial and certainly most business-like of our i oublic services—the Post and Tele-1 graph Department—and in the Savings Bank branch a higher amount was deposited by the public than ever previously received in une year. The improvement in the railway revenue, on a basis of interest on cost of con-

struction, is matter for congratulation, and with the advent of the new General Manager even greater things! are anticipated. That the Government' proposes to endeavour to provide a j more equitable basis than the present income-tax system, with gradu-1

ated increases corresponding with the increase in value, should be well received, as placing a burden more equitably on the shoulders of those best able to bear it. There are many difficult problems ahead of the Government, but they are endeavouring .to meet them on sound and honest lines, and at least have succeeded in showing some improvement in the Dominion's general finances.