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Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1923, Page 2

At Levin last, week Mr Massey million very hopeful speech as to the general financial position of the country. “We have got out of our difficulties to a very great extent,” said Mr Massey. “A year and a half ago, when 1 came hack from England, my heart wrs in my hoots. The slump had struck us, and it was really had. Wc were going to the had day by day, and the trouble was to put the brake on. Fortunately. I had a very good man at the hind of the Treasury, Wo have been successful because the people of the country were very hard-woiking, energetic, and loyal. During the last twelve months il is marvellous what they have done. Look at the wonderful increase in exports to see what the people have been doing—particularly the people engaged in dairy farming. It Inis saved us. The additional export and the additional money coming in just gave us the turn wc wanted. We have never looked back. To-day the improvement is going on all the time. The account:- are not quite made up yet. lint il I am not very ini out we are going to end the year with a surplus to i-SOU.COO. That is a inn i-i-vll<.iir change from the position twelve mouths ago. We collect the income tax in February. ;;H the income tax is not collected, in any February for the year to which that February belongs, ft is ci llccted for the previous year. When we collected the income lax this year we were L'2,()C'.),()otJ slum. We knew perfectly well that we should he C2.00U.(X10 slioit. Well, wc have wiped that out and are .(.‘BOO,OOO to the good, f am speaking in round figures. There it i.-: we have gat a clean start.”

Tn view of the roseate financial position. Mr Massey would Ik; quite justified in revising his previous decision not to go to the Imperial Conlerence. Taitranga win helpful rather than otherwise, and he said at the lime that if lie did not get his candidate in he would not go. If New Zealand is to he the only Dominion which will not be represented by its Prime Minister, then Mr Massey will he placing the country in a very conspicuous position by not being there. The occasion is of Empire imparlance, and Mr Massey should not let trifles prevent his attendance. According to a late statement- h,v Mr Massey, Parliament is to discuss the matter, and no believe Parliament will take the right course and look to the Premeir to go over the water. No doubt the parlies would do everything necessary to facilitate t.lie visit on so very important: an occasion. Tlte members of the New Zealand Parliament would he doing a disservice not only to their own country, but to tho Empire, if they did not make it possible for the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) to attend the Imperial Conference this year, said Sir John I.uke. M.l’., speaking at a ceremony in Levin last week. Sir John Luke thought it most important that New Zealand should, be represented and particularly that it should be represented by .Mr Massey. Mr Massey was the one Prime Minister of the Empire who had gone right through the war period and was still in office. IDs enthusiasm for Imperial solidarity was well known, and lie could be depended upon, to combat vigorously any iuHuenee that tended to cause disruption. It was necessary, for the good both of the Empire, and of New Zealand, that Mr "Massey should take his seat at the conference.

Tint Mayor at Friday's meeting of the Borough Council struck the right note in urging the Council to proceed without delay with the works covered bv the loan proposals lately sanctioned by the ratepayers. This matter has been deferred quite long enough now, ami if the ratepayers are to get value out of the expenditure the sooner the improvements proposed are carried out the better. The Council will he fully justified in entering upon its progressive policy. The prospects of the town are such that the Council like the citizens should display enterprise and endeavour to make the place worthy ot its prospects There is quite a lot of building contemplated indicating a belief oil the pait of the people in the future of the town. Tlie Council will be expected to rise similarly to the occasion and lead rather than be pushed into action in regard to municipal improvements which ate so apparent as to call for immediate attention. During this week there will be a call for nominations for the new Council. It may he expected that most of the present members will he re-elected, but an infusion of new blood is always to be welcomed and no doubt there will be some fresh faces at the Council table.