REPLY TO CRITICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 7

REPLY TO CRITICS.

MINISTER OF INANCE AT HASTINGS LOAN MD&DLEMENT OF PREDECESSORS (By tWiSifcph.—Press J^sac'liMloJiO Hastings, Fchrtm-ry 14. The Hon. James Alien spent a busy day this morning. He addressed the ■scholars at tho 'Mu.karere Native Girts' School at Kapler, am! afterwards ho visited tho Technical Co!le*so. Ho then motored to the Maori Boys' College, at To Ante, and addressed; the scholars there. Thou ho proceeded, to Wnipawa and inspected the High SebooL Ho returned to Hastings hi the evening and addressed a crowded meeting at the Priucpsa Theatre, where ho received, a splendid reception, although during ilia speech he was subjected to cmmiderablo interruption. Mr. Allen made a fighting 'speech, . although' he was obviously tired, after his day's work. The main portion : of | his address was devoted to reviewing tho work of the last two sessions and comparing it with that of other Governments. Regarding the State Advances Departments, ho said that last session they did something that would materially 'help local bodies 'by putting oil tho Statute Book legislation for tho ..State guarantee of their loans. ' Tills would make it easier for backblocks settlers ' to obtain money for their roads and bridges., Under tho State- Guarantee., ■loans could bo floated on the London market at a lower ra.to of interest, =e'f« fecting a saving to the ratepayers of from 6.j-io-quartc.r to one per cent-. Bo declared that the adminis'tratiß-n of tiin Advances Department Was -more ilbej-al than ever it was, and was sound financially. apposition Dealt With. Referring to the , excp.iidit-tire,.. nn.B ■ answering tho criticism of the CjpptfSitiou. he said that the .increase in. ■expenditure during the last year of the so-called "Liberal Party" was £097,000, and at the end of the first financial year of the Reform, Government it 'was. £741,000. They had lessened the in- v ■crease by £255,000, and/had only, been in power for nine- .in.ontb.s-. He refuted tho statements made by lite Opposition that tlio Government hod. not kept its election pledges, and enumerated tho measures it had passed, in fulfili.ii.ent ■of its pre-election promises.' He 'condemned the financial policy of the Ward. Government, and asked what sort Of business it was to have, loans amounting to twelve ntiilio.ns failing due in ono year. That .Was wdi'at.lis had had to face this year. He said that Sir Joseph Ward, just before he w'cii.t out -of loffico, could have raised, at' the same" pri.ce/.lynt for te'n years, the loan Mr. Myers was eonipo'liod by the. underwriters itftn'ko ou a currency for tw;o years- only;' -But-Sir Joseph Ward preferred to ipled'ge all our (»i.lt-ed'ged > securities, leaving the liabilities to his successor. He was clad it was; Mr. Myers ■ uiid ijot himself who bad.to take f-bo burden the'first few months after Sir Joseph Ward left th.c. Treasury Cowslips. Mr- Myers was forced on* to the London 'iftjirkfefa Mid neither Sir Joseph l Word jio.r Mr. Myers :cotiM have get a long-dated loan at' that time. immigration. The immigration"'polity of the present) Government; Stiid'.Mf,' Allen.; reii-ri.mi-ingt was the same as that of its predecessors. It was to bring- mtt the class of labour that would not compote With that, already on the market. The Dominion wanted farm labourers—and boys who Would-eventually become fa rni .laboii.rors-'-and domestic servants,, .'jJho 7s. Gd', offered, to boys was. a .minimum wage and Would, bo .increased as tho lads hosamo more ofTrciciit in their w-ork. Cultivation was not being carried on lieciiu.se; there was hot- tho Jahour'avaiU able to. sow and reap the grain which should ho carried to tho ports. "Replyjhg-'to- rtit''lnterjection ho said that the strike had reduced tho railway, revenue by from £200,0.00, to £250,000. The irnilwaymeii's pay had been increased ■cpbsi.dora.bly,' but it : was impossible to increase them if the railways did pot earn what they .siioiild... Oho of_ the -evil's of the;.' .strilwc'liiid ic'o.it to injure the railw-aymeii. and all classes of labouf. l.i.adaisQ. suffered. ..,■_.. .....Naval P01igY,....... ~,... ~ Ml'. Allen dwelt a considerable, time, on tho naval policy of the Government, which, be said, lie did not intend to nm'kV a-' part}' question.' Ho gave- a general -.outlinß of the Government's, proposals, gorngj over the ground (already ■ published) of his previous statements on'' the subject. Ho maintained that if New Zealand was to retain, her self-respect; she must shoulder her- responsibilities, and not atlof tlio Pacific to bo iiiipr<r* tectod. ■ History had proved that those who relied, on paying otjt nieney to somebody dso to 'protect them came to grief. If Nov Zealand contributed iiiono.y to tho British Adi'fi'iralty it sltotild have a say in' the administratio.nof tho whole naval policy of tho Empire, "ff we are to have- Sji' Empirn," ho jleelarcd, 'Vo must have the sftaways which, coniieet tho distant parte of tlio Empire kept open, And this could ii.ot bo doiio by a. fleet in tlio North . Sea," Government's intentions. It V'.ie the policy of tho Government, ho added, to eowfiiruo making tlio finances of the country nioro sound, , although they were niuch hotter now than whoil they took oflico. It'was also proposed to amend -the Sli'peran.nttatio.)i Regulations to make provision; .for the widows of Miperaiina.ated ftfiiceis. Other refofiiis wottld bo carried out, lii rogard to defence they had done away with the imprisonment of defaulters, and ho hopeil to liia'kQ prevision for itltefn.ato scrvico Tor eniisoieutious objectors. Fitrther legislation ;wtiujd tio iiitrodwc.ed to impreyo tho conditions of school teachers. .'A vote of thanks and coivfide-neo was?, passed by a largo majority.