WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

(Our Special Correspondent). THE DOMINION’S FINANCE

UNSATISFIED CURIOSITY. WELLINGTON, May 31

So far the Minister of Finance has done nothing to elucidate tile bare statement of the public accounts published in the “Gazette” last week. The official returns simply gave tile figures for tile last quarter of the financial year ended 31 arch 31st and it was Dio intelligent reported that added them to the returns of the previous three quarters and presented them' as the totals for the year. Perhaps former Ministers had led the public to expect too much by tacking brief financial statements on to the quarterly returns and the annual totals, hut the practice was appreciated by those who took an interest in the public accounts and naturally its discontinuance is occasioning some comment. Mr Massey lias indicated plainly enough, however, that the revenue for the year was entirely satisfactory and that the expenditure was not restricted for the purpose of swelling the. surplus. LOANS AND TAXATION.

But it is plain enough that the surplus—or, more correctly the amount by which the revenue exceeded the expenditure—lias been fully anticipated by commitments and that it is only on paper the Dominion is in the comfortable position of having a million or two in hand towards the needs of the new year. The Treasury is practically empty, as Ministers have been telling the public in more or loss blunt terms during the last two or three months, and a considerable loan and increased taxation are inevitable. These are the burdens which faced both parties at tile general election, and now go far to explain the attitude of the leader of the Liberal Opposition, the JTon W. D. g. MacDonald, in desiring to help and not to hinder Mr Massey aild his colleagues in solving the difficult ..problems that ' confront them. This will not remove the differences of opinion between the parties, but it probably will considerably modify party asperity during the approaching session.

. THE 'RAILWAY 'DISPUTE. One .result of the unfortunate delay in proceeding with the hearing of the dispute between the Railway Department and the members of the Locomotive Branch of the service is the withdrawal of Mr W. D. Hunt, the managing director of Messrs Wright Stephenson and Co., from the representation .of the men on the special conciliation committee that was set up under the agreement which ended the recent crisis. Mr Hunt has very special personal and business qualifications for the task lie had undertaken with the warm approval of both parties, hut his impending departure for England lias compelled his retirement from the committee. His place will he taken by Mr J. T. Martin, a member of the same firm, than whom no better substitute could he found, hut the loss of Mr Hunt’s ripe experience in dealing with matters is much to bo regretted. It is hoped the hearing will begin this week EMIGRATION ANT) IMMIGRATION. Some rather unpleasant developments in connection with tile emigration policy of the Imperial Government have come under public notice lately At a meeting of the War Assistance Committee hist u’eek a case was reported in which ii woman with five young children, and another child expected shortly, had boon sent out from Home in advance of her husband to the care of a relative here. The relative had received them with all the hospitality her means and accommodation would permit, but these were quite inadequate for the decent maintenance of such a. family. The outcome, of course, was an appeal for assistance, which will have to be provided by the State or by one of the local authorities till the husband and father arrives to take up his responsibilities. Other cases of the same kind arc known to exist and representations are being made to the Government on the sub--1 ieet.