GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1927, Page 4

GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.

FAKMKIiS I'.FAiriyy, 'IUK Bltrs-T

CAAIBRIDGF, July 16

In the course of an address to members of the local Farmers’ Union tins afternoon, Mr L. IT. Alt-Alpine, Dominion Organiser, said the timo had come when, as farmers, they would have to secure the sympathy of city dwellers and their co-operation in calling upon the Oovernment to halt in the matter of expenditure. The Government was spending too lavishly. Il was time the Government was made to recognise it could not go beyond the will of the people. Farmers in the Dominion at the present time were in a parlous state, and the rapidly increasing expenditure on the part of the i iovernment was t j a great extent I lie cause. IXCI!FAFF SIXCF 15)1 +.

In support of Ins contention the speaker quoted departmental expenditure for the years 15.111 and 1920 respectively. as lollows: —Railways, 1'5.100,000 and £5,980.000:' Education. £1,420.000 and £3.809,000: Post and Telegraph. £1.170.000 and £2.400.000 (P. and T. salaries. £700.000 and £].- 805,000) ; Prisons. £25.09(5 and £60.000: Police salaries. £156,000 and £321.000: Public Health, £lll.OOO and £127,000; Tourist, £5,70 ) and £lO.000; Land and Survey. £IOO,OOO and £183,000; Agriculture, £BB.OOO and £189,000; Public Works, £4,-103,000 and £8,500.090. There was a slight reduction in the expenditure on defence.

Every day. said Mr McAlpine, farmers were asked wiiv they timid not make their farms pay. and the reason was contained in the figures lie had quoted. AGRICULTURAL BAXKS.

The speaker went on to speak of agricultural hanks, and stressed his contention that they were needed by stating that he had been inlormed b\ Air W. J. Poison that at the present time there were 9000 men less on farms in the Dominion than at this time last year. In Taranaki 100,000 acres had gone out ol production, yet the Government urged production a d still more production. Ihe lan. i l,a<) had little assistance of Into yen and when the slum]) came and th'. - “got it, in the neck.” up went t.. 1 price of money. All- AlcAlpine charmterised the C:;.eriiment’s long term loans arrangement as but. a shadowy affair as i:mipared with the comprehensive Banking Rill which was the outcome of the Royal Bank ing Commission. Co-op-eration of the fanners was required to compel tho Government- to give full cli'cct to the report of the Royal ( ommissionors. All- All-Alpine was accorded u very hearty vote of thanks.