HAS ANSWERED TEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 505, 7 November 1928, Page 10

HAS ANSWERED TEST

REFORM’S SOUND POLICY FINANCE MINISTER AT GORE Press Association INVERCARGILL, Tuesday. The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, addressed a large meeting at Gore this evening. Dealing with the dissimilar views of the three chief parties in the field, he said both Reform and Labour were opposed to the policy put forward by the United Painty. Nothing had impressed him so much as the criticism of the United programme levelled by Labour. The Minister referred to criticism levelled at the Government in respect of land settlement, but claimed that the Ministers of Lands and Agriculture were doing everything possible. The position in this respect was difficult in all parts of the world. After dealing at length with the borrowing proposals of Sir Joseph Ward, the Minister said he would rely on the good sense of the people of New Zealand to keep our borrowing within such normal limits as a business man would consider reasonable, having regard to the proper development of the country.

“If it be the hall mark of high statesmanship to largely increase our annual borrowing, lend money at less than cost price and burden the taxpayer with deficit,” said Mr. Stewart, “then we may admit that the United Party has a statesmanlike policy. But if it be a test of sound government that borrowing should be kept within such limits as will not adversely affect our national credit, but be adequate to complete with businesslike promptness our public works, lands, finance and housing, then I claim that the Reform Government has answered to this test.”