Economy

While the Treasurer (Mr Bruce) is en- gaged in preparing the Budget the demand for economy and decreased taxation is be- coming more insistent, and supported by influential bodies outside Parliament. must members of the House of Representatives are urging the Ministry to make heavy reductions in expenditure.

Scene: A Minister’s Room.
Characters: “The Very Great One.”
              “The Lesser Great One.”
              “The Office Boy.”

When the scene opens all the charac-
ters are upon the stage, the two Min-
isters seated at the desk, the office boy
in the background busy with the stamp
box.

The Very Great One: Well, what’s in
the wind now? (I hope this fellow is
not getting too uppish. Sometimes he
seems to think than a crown might fit
him.)

The Lesser Great One: Well, I’m just
fixing up this beastly Budget. Awful
bore, you know. And I’m afraid we must
economise somewhere, (He seems in a
fairly good temper—for him. But
I’d better humor him.)

Great One: Economise? Well, what
do you propose? (This young fellow
has a lot to learn about the game.)

Lesser One: We ought to do some-
thing about it. (Hasn’t he old fox any
ideas at all?)

Great One: But why economise?
Have I ever done it? Why, ever since
I’ve been on top, expenditure has gone
up. (I wonder what’s his game really
is?)

Lesser One: Well, there’s your private
career, you know. (I wonder if that
will rouse him?)

Great One: My private career?
What’s that got to do with public ex-
penditure? (I’ll tell him to go to
blithering blazes in a minute!)

Lesser One: But we must do some-
thing. There are votes to consider.
(Where did he get his reputation for
being a heaven-born legislator?)

Great One: Votes. My dear man!
Did ever you hear of votes being
bought with economy? (He’s raw, this
young fellow; quite raw.)

Lesser One: But can’t we do some-
thing? (I knew he never took politics
as seriously as I do.)

Great One (glancing at Office Boy):
Well, perhaps some of the lower paid
officers might be retrenched; just to
please you. (I know that kid has been
pinching my chewing gum. I’ll sacrifice
him.)

Office Boy (sensing danger): I’ve
an idea, sir. There’s a whole lot of
this selvedge stamp paper. Couldn’t we
use that for mendin’ broken promises
an’ fixin’ up political arguments? It
going to waste now. (That ought to fix
the cow.)

Great One bright boy! (To Lesser
One): Now, there’s an example for you.
A very brilliant idea. (I hope this
gets rid of him. I have an appointment
to be thrown of a horse this after-
noon.)

Lesser One: I suppose it will have ta
do, but - oh very well. Good morning
(I knew he always borrowed his ideas)

(Exit.)

Great One: Sonny, your screw is
raised a shilling a week. (It doesn’t
matter; the Government pays it-
Whats economy?)