UNKNOWN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 46, 19 March 1909, Page 2

UNKNOWN

■t. MASSEY'S STATEMENTS. (iIAL SITUATION. .—Press Association. stchureh, lAst Xight. ntary baiKjuct tendered on at Lyttclton, Sir replied vigorously to the allegations recently made li.v tile Leailei' uf the (>]»- position to the effect that appointments to public service were improperly nunle, persons being appointed over the heads of tliose higher on the list, and persons lieing appointed who had not passed any examination. lie read i memo, friini Mr. Hugh I'olleu to tile effect that both allegations were false, and that vacancies were tilled in accordance with the Civil Service Heforrn Art of 188(i and the regulations, lie also stated tu«,t ne had never been asked ill any way by any Minister to depart from his statutory duties in the matter of these appointments. Respecting the use made by Mr. Massev of certain remarks made by Sir Robert Stout at the University Senate, practically the same in effect a> above, Sir Joseph Ward read a cable message from Sir Robert Stout, stating lie made it clear that lie did not refer to the recent administration of the Act. Referring to the finances of the Dominion, he stated that the figures of the Post Office Savings Bank showed the deposits for tlu> months of January and February totalled A!l,.wl,(i!ll, and the withdrawals C1.."i14.117'">, ;m excess of deposits over withdrawals of .€37,(117. lie indicated 'that Parliament would be .asked to reduce the areas of separal<' sections offered under the Lands for JsVl'tlemcut Act. It would he .his duty in the course of the next few weeks to p'ace (lie policy of the <lovernme".it 1.1 cfore the ipeoiple and indicate the pro-;».-e(I legislation 'for next session. At present the finances of the Dominion promised to bear out tile estimate lie plaeed before Parliament last sossio:i. Alt the Government's finances were fixed np to Octobe'r next, an important thing for 'people of all classes to know.