OUR FIYtSCIAL CRITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 39

OUR FIYtSCIAL CRITICS.

MINISTER OF FINANCE IN REPI.1 V I OHRISTCHTJRGH, January 16. ; The criticisms of the Investors'- Review of our finance, Sir Joseph War.d said to an interviewer to-day, "ere not regarded aa \ery 6erious by thoee with & -knowledge of - the circumstances, and to the question where we expected to get the moneys authorised this year a very comlpete answer ia furnished by the fact that we have gofc, . them all with the exception of fhfl current! quarter's proportion of the £800,000 to l"« paid to the Public Works Fund. We are in a position to pay the requisite £200,000 now', but it is not immediately' requited. That is the answer to those strictures. As a matter of fact, the Dominion's finance ■has never been stronger in.jny time than ifr ie to-day. Even at the height of the American financial panfo •within the -last few weeks I declined to renew one largo ixsuxsa^tion. rximxingr ixtfco **- ls*-Kg?e sum, because the holder asked for improved terms. They had taken up a- large portion of the past loans at a premium of Z pec cent., and wanted to renew at par. Asstated, I declined, and made fresh arrangements on equally' good terme with those existing previously."