This stupendous total—four times our pre-War expendi- ture—and the heavy
increase over last year, rightly cause much uneasiness. The cost of the Defence Services has been but slightly reduced, but the Civil expenditure has again risen, largely on account of unem- ployment relief and other Social Services. The First Lord of the Admiralty announces a reduction of 3,400 officers and men in the strength of the Navy, and his building programme for three cruisers and nine destroyers seems relatively modest. Yet the Navy Estimates are virtually unchanged. The financial relief which was to come from the naval agreements is still withheld. Some means of checking the rise in expenditure must be found. The Inland Revenue authorities report that the numbers of Super Tax payers and the amount paid by them are declining—an indication that the limit of practicable direct taxation has been reached.
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