Dominion Politics.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 96, 16 April 1914, Page 5

Dominion Politics.

GOVERNMENT’S POSITION. SPEECH BY HON. JAS. ALLEN. [Feb Press Association.] Milton, April 15. Hon James Allen addressed a crowded meeting of Ins constituents tonight, dealing with finance and de- | fence. ' He stated that tlie Advances to Settlers account was in a strong position, and the Board last March * -authorised advances amounting to £92,335. The advances to local authorities account, instead of having a debit of £659,308, as it had when the Government took office, had a balance on March 31 of £55,474, which, with £500,000 loan money available, made a totjil of , 555,474. The commitments at the same date amounted to £l4/,040 leaving a credit balance of £408,The position of the Public Works Fund and the workers’ branch was also stronger now. It has been decided, as from April 6 last, to accept applications up to £SOO to redeem mortgages on freeholds, and in regard to loans to local authorities the Board was now in a position to consider applications from counties for £IO,OOO and from townships for £SOO. Mr Allen also announced in general terms the results of the financial year ended March 31. There had been transferred from the Consolidated Fund to the Public Works Fund £676,000, while all Treasury bills were .paid off before the end of the year. Unexpected expenditure during the year amounted to £23,701 on account of smallpox, and £90,832 on account of the strike, or a total of £114,533. Both these causes had also injured the railway pevenue. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, it jvas gratifying to be able to announce that the surplus for the year would be approximately £400,000. This, surplus was calculated on a sounder basis than the surpluses of previous Ministries, as it had been the custom to include as ordinary revenue the proceeds derived from cash sales of land and to swell the surplus by this unsound finance. Speaking as Defence Minister, he criticised a number of statements made in the House and elsewhere by Sir Joseph Ward as to the cost of New Zealand naval defence. He also referred to the gross impropriety of public men making such baseless appeals to people as Sir Joseph Ward did at - Greymouth in January, when he , said a law had been carried to change the existing law, and the men and, 1 women of New Zealand were no longer directly protected by the British Government. 1 A vote of hanks and confidence in Mr Allen and the Ministry was carried unanimously.