Since the Budget statement the House as a whole has
been in a chastened frame of mind. For two or three years a great many members have seemed to regard almost light- heartedly the steadily mounting figures of expenditure. Since astronomical sums had to be raised anyhow, it seemed hypercritical to cavil at a few millions here and there. Now they are forced to contemplate a not-far-distant time when increasing demands from the defence services will probably coincide with declining trade and a consequently diminishing yield from taxation. The effect has been salutary. On Wednesday several speakers competed in hoisting the tattered banner of retrenchment. Mr. Mabane expressed the hope, though without much confidence, that the House would once again become the taxpayer's watchdog and Mr. Hely- Hutchinson, in a well-balanced maiden speech, pointed out that we were faced with the prospect of budgets permanently in the neighbourhood of a thousand millions. * * * *
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