THE PREMIER'S SPEECH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 86, 7 May 1909, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S SPEECH

c ♦ MB. ALLEN'S CRITICISM. ii By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Lust Night, f In the course of an interview to-day, e Mr. Allen, M.P., expressed disappoint- .. mtnl with the Prime Minister's Inver- '(. cnrgill speech. He said apparently the ~ whole ot the extra railway earnings |, ( £83.1)07) hail been expended. As the t Premier stated, a saving of £170,340 u had been effected on votes. Without 0 this saving on appropriations there h would have been no surplus at all. The statement thai the expenditure of the (1 consolidated fund for the year had in - s creased lev £,")71.000 was startling. Tlie 1 Premier admitted that £250,000 could he gaved by amalgamation and economy. If that saving could be made this year, it could have been nuiuVin other years and the money used on roads, railways, etc. An increase in revenue in three years of Sir Joseph Ward's administration was £1,410,820, but the increase in expenditure in life same term was £1,063,173. Tt was satisfactory iff om sense to know the Prime Minister ha'i been able to arrange for loan renewals fint tlin practice of having To renew .1 large amount of sTiort-dated debenture! every now and then was a very hazard ous one. It was ;iot right that 'the (Jo vornment should have to renew or pro vide for within three years nearl; £8,000,000 of debentures'and provide in the current year for another £2,013, Mil. Mr. Allen condemned Hie native land administration, and said the south cm members ought to help the nortli to make provision that native land* shall he no longer unus'ed. He fcare< thc Prime Minister's national annuities scheme would not be on a sound finan cial basis. He strongly advocated ; change in regard to defence and hop9i Parliament would do something in th matter.