HON. W. F, MASSEY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1919, Page 1

HON. W. F, MASSEY

fPER PRESS ASSOCIATION.- COPYRIGHT.] AUCKLAND, Nov. 16. | Referring l to ’Sir Joseph Ward’s criticism of finance, Mr Massey in a speech at Papakura, said it was “tho most arrant nonsense that a politician ever spoke.” . Sir : Joseph Ward's statement would lead to : the belief - that the Government proposed : to spend £60,000*000 during the present _ financial

year, blit this sum, lie pointed "out,- included the- whole of the ordinary expenditure, including salaries, pensions, and interest, and also the sinking fund on the loans; and war expenditure. He failed to see what possible objection would be made to these items.

The actual commitments, said Mr Massey, totalled £31,262,000, but it would not be possible-to spend-a : fourth of this amount in the period. Authority had been obtained for' £14,500,000 for soldier settlement; but the expenditure of this would probably extend over three years. The commitments included £10,000,000 for gratuities, and outstanding war" expenses. Of this, tho gratuities would absorb £6,000,000. Yet, Sir‘Joseph Ward, who now raised alarm over- tho financial position, had wanted to increase the gratuities to a sum that would have amounted to £8,000,000. -Sir Joseph - Ward’s proposals, he snul, wfcre simply/electioneering. The- soldiers themselves Were, he asserted, satisfied with the amount-they got. • They knew the other proposals were humbug and- bunkum. He objected to public affairs being put up to auction in that manner. Such criticism was that of ail irresponsible politician, who was doing a great deal 'of harm/ to the financial reputation of the country, which, he said, was sound, and particularly prosperous.