“HIDDEN SURPLUS.”

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1924, Page 4

“HIDDEN SURPLUS.”

ALLEGATIONS CAP LA BOCK AIKAfBKK.

QCESTION OF £OOO,OOO. j

AV.ELLIXGTOX, .lime 2-1

An allegation that Mr Massey, as Minister of Finance had hidden a stun of £OOO,OOO in the Public Accounts in order to reduce the amount of his published surplus, was made by Mr It. M'TCeon, M.P., whefi speaking at Wellington South. The Prime Minister declines to make a reply at present, but proposes to deal l'ullv with the matter in Parliament. “I believe.” said Mr M’Keen. ‘■that Mr Massey, as Kinanec Minister of this Dominion, knows what the position is. As a matter of fact Labour member* stilted that we ought to have a surplus of about £3,000.000. We had studied the accounts. Mr Mas. *oy says the surplus is £1 .SOO.CUO. I.nhour says it is about ,C0.C00,000- This wants explaining by the Massey Government. Last year the interest on public moneys amounted to £1.302,067. This year interest on public moneys is £015,501. Now where is the difference of £000,000? This wants to he explained. Besides we have National Endowment revenue, which last year was shown as £00,150. but this year it is nil. Why this differenceb Where has the £OOO.OOO gone to? T contend that it is not siillieiont for Air Ala.ssey io say that it has been utilised in another account. If he dees say that lie lias to show that in bis accounts because in the lirst plate that UiOO.OtIO must fii.st be shown on the accounts of the Department as a debit, and that when it is disbursed as an expenditure. I venture to sav this. that that £0110.003 is not disclosed because of Labour's prophecy of a £3.000,000 surplus. | would like to say hard things about, this patticillnr thing, he. cause I feel that it is not just, it is not honest. There is something that wants explaining, and it has nut been explained because the money has been utilised for we don't know what. That item !s hidden somewhere. If it is here the surplus to-day would be £2.1110.000. Here we have an account showing a reduction of practically half this tear and mother ai count showing practically no revenue whatever, and ibis while our State servants from one end of New /calami to the other are discontented because of the low standard of living that they have at the present moment.”