The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1913. FIGURES AND PROFESSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 317, 31 May 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1913. FIGURES AND PROFESSIONS.

We are getting a little bit tired of the Government's perpetual reiteration that it cannot find money for Public Works because it came into office only to find a depleted Treasury, which, on account of the stringency of the money market, it was not possible at the moment to refill. The previous administration was continually taxed by the Opposition with "bribing the electors" by unnecessary and extravagant disbursements from the Consolidated Revenue. But, with a frankness that is beyond all praise, coming from the source that it does, Mr. Massey has h6ist himself deliberately with his own petard. The public accounts for the year 1912-13 were gazetted last week, and duly telegraphed in brief throughout the country. They are charmingly illuminative. Commenting upon the figures, the Christchurch Press, forgetful of its previous denunciations of the extravagance of Sir Joseph Ward arid Mr. T. Mackenzie, cheerfully remarks. i "It does not surprise us to discover that the details of the Public Works Fund explode one of the most persistent stories of the Government's enemies. For months past these people have been crying out that the Government has been starving the country, and that it had practically ceased to spend money on public works. The plain figures show that whereas during the last quarter of 1911-12 the sum of £860,785 was expended on roads,-rail-ways, buildings, bridges and the other purposes of the Fund, the present Government spent £1,011,123 during the last quarter of 1912-13. For the whole year 1912-13 the expenditure amounted to £2,378,539, as against' £2,200*745 spent by the Ward Government in 1911-12." This is alright, though we should have likecj to see the figures doubled, for the one necessity of the Dominion is a vigor--5 ous Public Works policy where the roadI ing of the country and the proper open- | ing up of land' for settlement are concerned. But we should like to know wtyere the increased expenditure lias gone. Every newspaper in the country is repeatedly recording the "turning down" of deputations that are seeking money for such purposes, and the inevitable excuse is the stringency of the money market. If the Treasury was empty when Mr. Massey assumed officfe it would be interesting to learn where the money for this increased expenditure came from. The two storied do not tally. We clo not object to the expenditure if it has been properly administered, but wej sjiovild.like some explanation of the Government's singular volte face where that expenditure is concerned. Apparently Mr. Massey, on his owji figures, has out-Heroded the ■ Ilerod of the previous Government in the matter of Public Works. This is a matter for' praise rather than blame, but there will be many curious constituencies left wondering how liis figures exactly tally with his, professions. It is easy to- say that there is no milk left because the eat has driink it all, but the public,would" like to know which cat {ind when. The bald fact remains that Mr.''Massey's figures and liis professions do not balance. Which are correct ?