Our Finances

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 222, 19 March 1914, Page 5

Our Finances

SIR JOSEPH WARD EEPIJEa TO THE PB-MTEff, By Telegraph—Presa Association. Wellington, Larf Night. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at a social tendered to Lady Ward by the s!.'* tea's Sucial ami Political League, dealt briefly with linancial matters. He said that Mr Massey's statement at Nelson that any of the settlers present could have financed the country better than the Liberal*) did, was ridiculous. Sir Joseoh believed the country's position was financially strong to-day, and it was eo when the Liberals left office. No Treasurer of the Dominion had been lett in a stronger nosition that the present Minister for Finance.

They had never found the Liberals '"- jnring the credit of the country. The Liberals had never done anything to discredit the Treasurer's leaving these shores for Home to obtain a loan. The last loan was well subscribed, but how did the Reform Government account for the fact that the Russian loan was subscribed, not fourfold, but seventy-two-fold? The Liberal finance had never failed to give sufficient money for the country's needs. Renewals of loans were going on during the whojjg period the Liberals Were in office, but the Liberals had not been so foolish as to talk about them on the platform until they were completed. While in opposition, the Reformers had endeavored to discredit the. Liberal Administration, yet °s soon as the* got into office they usSd the Liberals' successes as* did* to obtain their own loans. ••,.