REFORM FINANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1921, Page 4

REFORM FINANCE

The “Auckland Star’’ lias noticed that the Reform journals find it impossible to defend the financial administration of their Government. “The truth is,” says our contemporary, “that among all the metropolitan newspapers the Government lias not. one staunch supporter in the matter of finance. Its own organs are dissatisfied. The-“Ota-go Daily Times” considers the increase in Department expenditure ‘unreasonably heavy’, and doubts whether it has been accompanied by any increase in efficiency. There must, it says, be ‘an honest endeavour’ on the part of /Ministers to economise. The Christchurch ‘Press’ has been uneasy about expenditure for some time, but it tries to prove that it is all Sir Joseph Ward’s fault. The hold bail man introduced into New Zealand ‘tbe regime of heavy taxation and a terrific rise in expenditure.’ We are eld-fashioned enough to think that Sir Joseph Ward has forgotten more about finance than Mr Massey ever knew or will ever know. We may point out that it is nearly two years since Sir Joseph ceased to lie Finance Minister, that those have been years of peace, and that during this time the Government has actually increased taxation. At heart, we suspect, the “Press” is alarmed about the Government’s finance. So is the newspaper world gentrally. We do not remember a time in which there was such unanimity among

newspapers of all opinions. Tt reflects the opinion of all those who give any serious thought, to finance. The Government has no policy, but only a disposition to drift. Perhaps only the sight of rocks close to leeward will bring it to a full sense of responsibilities.