AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 128, 23 October 1914, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

MB. HOLMAX'S BUDGET. * BNOOURAGINIQ IKCR]3ASBD PRQDUC-, TIW. | By cable.—Press Association.—Copyright 6ydney, October 21.. In toe Assembly, Iff Dolman, i delivering liia Budget, said the revenue' and ex-, pcnditiuire figures were not yet available; He proposed to increase the income tax by a super-tax of threepence in 'the £, ■and : to impose a tax on motor vehicles. He also intimated that a speeial tax might be necessary, but added that the ending of the war might -falsify all iiis calculations,' which were based on the ', assumption that the conditions of to-day». would exist for a year. Be mentioned that Mr Fisher had a scheme under way which he was confident would permit him to meet the additional financial obligations cast upon his Government without imposing additional taxation. At all events, this year the Government intended to encourage extra produetiom by co-operation with the banks, making advances to settlers, and giving special inducement for the production of wheat from virgin soil.

KJ2YENUE Mil) KX-PBKDITUKE.'. I Sydney, Oe'.obex S& ! ■ The Budget shows t'lie net revewie -to -be £7,348/000, and. the expenditure f;ilW«,()00. Statutory deductions' , left a deficit on lie Government transactions of £IOO,OOO. The estimated, revenue fox Me' present year is £7,425,000,, and. the camsnditure £7,G53,000.

Rttferrimr to the loan policy, Mr.'. Holmon stated that the increase in the public debt during the.year -was £1(1,625,000, and'the total indeWedncss, £116,000,000. • I, Whilst : a legitimate note issue".was a rietit and proper method »J borrowing, large amounts of paper money from t4e Federal Government would only result in financial disaster. An Indiscriminate issue was one of the prize delusions of <the «ga , : '.Regarding the absorption of .fhe' (unemployed on new wheat areas, tJhe Premier stated that it had' been, decided to, guarantee a definite) minimum Twice for all wheat raised on additional aTeas. It would not be compulsory to sell to the Government, (but the crop would simply be marketed in the usual' -way. The previous Budget figures' were Oovernmen.ia! only. Te total revenue was £18,420,000, and the expenditure £lB.047,513. Tllio estimated revenue for the present year is £19,140,000, and the exderive £330,000 from the additional income tar,' and £50,0(10 from the'tax nn aniotor vehicles.

Mr Uolman severelyNjeritieiflod tit disconteijfe.d men at "Broken Hill for their action in banging round (Sic temporarily 6i!spejid«l mines. 1-fo said it was unworthy of 'the independence and manliness of tha Australian worVr, and would find little sympathy from "the Government.

WESTKALTAN ELECTIONS. Perfh, Getdber 22. Yesterday's returns, of the. general election gave no indication of the position. Tile Liberal* may possibly win Canning, Fremamhi North, and 1 Perth. •Laliar leads for Kubiaeo. . THE FEDERAL aiOUKH. Melbourne, October 22. A document (relatling to the existence of a German-organisation for influencing the press in other countries was tabled in tlie House of Kipreseßliafiivcs. New Hills given uotipe of .for .amendment are the Comm.onwcahlh Bank Act, in order to absorb Governmen't.ilw.n'kiing institutions, an iwter-State HOI 'dealing with tth c Divorce Law, a Federal Statute Dill, enaiblinjr tte executive to : mttko regulations ia relation to the present «tate of war, a Bill . to amend the Federal Arbitration Act. The following passed all stages:—A Bill to confer Admiralty or maritime jurisdiction on tire High Court and to declare the- High Court to 'be the Colonial Court of Admii-ukV am! a Crimes Bill. ' '

ilir FigVr, rdftTrin" to )he tmimva'case, stated that Hie constitution must lie amended. Tlie llousc adjourned till IWVfdnesd&v.

Tlie Senate ■paswrl a Bill gran'jng i 100,000 to iSie Belgian' 'Government.