SIR JOSEPH WARD

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1929, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD

REPLIES TO CRITICISM. <y\ - > ; ■I •, • • •• ;T " WELLINGTON, Nov. 26. 'tlie 1 Prime Minister, a.lludnig.‘to tin; statements by Mi’ Holland and 1 Mi Co-ahak, speaks of them, as nothing less’-Mtlran political' bidding 1 for tin Pvilbli© Service "vote,' and that it 1 i: faii'ly transparent th'dse ! very imdAsir. abTcP tactics are hopedMtf have a bear; ing'oiV the' Hutt by->eleitioh. He ask; Mr Ctmtes why he considers the Civi : Service' salaries- should-be 'raised. "Hi! did-hothing out of the! surpluses since 1922, which ranged from £587,712 : ir 1926-27 to £1,812,365 in 1923-24. Sir J. Ward continues: "To gran increases now. recommended by th< Leader of the Opposition would cos approximately £300,020 per annum quite apart from the question o whether the increases,, mentioned ar< warranted from the,.- point of view ..o: value of the. work dope, and. the dis; rupting effect on the,, whole schenn of classification. The current year’.' finances were .reviewed by the. Acting Leader of the House, op my behalf, ii the closing hours of the session, wliei it was pointed out that the concessions subsequently granted on Bud get proposals absorbed any margil there might have been, and that tlr finances for the year will have to b tightly held,/if the ’ year is to closi without deficit. ''T "Air Coates makes reference to si: months’ figures, but these were reviewed in the House just before tin session closed. An analysis of tinposition and prospects showed then was no- justification for assumin' there would be any additional revenue available for any purpose, thus tli right honourable gentleman must have known bis recommendation could no be given effect t-o this year without a deficit, or increased taxation. The former Government could not possioly agree to, and as for the latter' it will be remembered that the Opposition strenuously opposed increases that were necessary to rectify the position arising out of last year’s deficit. Nc Government could at a juncture like the present authorise a general in crease in salaries without having Parliamentary sanction. The merest tyre in finance must know that the Govern ment must wait until financial resultare ascertained at ithe close of eaol year’s working, before embarking upon a programme of increased expenditure during the following financial year. "It must be remembered also tlial one of the most pressing problems that faced the country during the last session was that of unemployment and what the Government has achieved ir a practical manner has met with universal appreciation. All that has undoubtedly added to the demands upon the financial resources of the.country I reiterate in the strongest manner possible, that the Government is sympathetic to the claims of lower paid officers of the Public Service for increased remu nerati'n.”