DISPOSING OF THE SURPLUS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1744, 8 May 1913, Page 4

A CRITIC. ANSWERED. A somewhat remarkable suggestion was advanced by Mr. li. M'Callum, member for Wairau-, when lie was interviewed last week by a representative c{ tile "Moms Guardian." HeiVrriug to this year's surplus ol' „'.700,(M1, Mr. M'Callum was rejiortctl to have .sakl: "I venture to fay that had Sir Joseph Ward been Minister for Financo during (ho niiw months preceding March 31 last, this surplus would have been reduced by judicious expenditure. to the extent of XroO.GOfl, and ho would have gloried i:i tho iact that in'a time of financial depu.sjjoa he had pulled through with. liltlo or no surplus whatever." Asked last evening whether he had anything to say about the member for Wairau's "suggestion," (he lion. W. Fraser (Acting-Minister for Finance) made the following statement on tho subject:— "Mr. M'Calhim's criticism of the' Government's finance scarcely does him credit. I sometimes wonder whether the ignoranoo displayed in this stylo of criticism is really gsnuino or whether it is assumed. Does iur. .M'Callum know—and if he dees mjj; know, he certainly ought to—that tho only transfer that can bo made from the Consolidated Fund to tho Public Works Fund or any other fund, is by (he expressed will of Parliament", as set forth in the Appropriation Act, or, during the sitting of Parliament, by Imprest Supply Bill? Neither this Government nor any of its predecessors could have done what Mr. M'Callum suggests should have been donet namely, to have supplemented last year's Public Works Fund by transferring thereto the present surplus of .£700,000. Tho Appropriation Act of 1912, Section 10, reads as tollows: 'Tho Miniister for Finance may transfer any suiu or sums not exceeding in tho whole .£750,000 from tho Consolidated Fund to tho Public Works Fund, to bo issued and applied to. the 'purposes aud services provided for in this Act.' That .£750,000 lias been, so transferred. Will Sir. 'M'Callum be good enough to stats where tho authority is to' be fouod by "which that amount can be exceeded? Mr. M'Callum is scarcely complimentary to Sir Josph Ward in assuming that he would, while a Minister of the Orowu, have deliberately transgressed the law." ,