WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1921, Page 11

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

PUBLIC FINANCE. THE PRIME MINISTER OPTIMISTIC. (Special Correspondent.; Wellington, March 21. Though the Prime Minister’s temporary indisposition—a recurrence of the hemorrhage from the' nose which gave him some trouble last year—prevented him moving the second reading of the Finance Bill on Saturday, as had been intended, a summary of the salient, features of the public accounts up to the end of February was distributed during the afternoon. This showe that the revenue for the’ eleven months of the financial year covered by the figures amounts to £26,880,887 and the expenditure to £24,210,7’41, leaving a nominal surplus of £2,670,146. Buf many charges are to be brought to account before the close of the financial year at the end of the current month, and Mr. Massey contents himself in the meantime with saying he estimates there ultimately will be a surplus to carry forward to assist in meeting the special needs of the coming year. NEED FOR ECONOMY. In his brief comments upon the figures, Mr. Massey again emphasises the vital importance for the utmost economy in both public and private expenditure. Large savings, he says, already have been effected in the public service, and others, he promises, are to be effected in the immediate future. The accounts for the eleven months under review, however, bear little evidence of any substantial economies having been yet realised. The Mental Hospitals Department and the Agricultural Department indeed show tjhe only reductions in expenditure of any magnitude. The expenditure of the Justice Departments, compared with that of the corresponding eleven months of last year, has increased by £132,488, Internal Affairs by £284,584, Defence by £43,961 and Education by £3311,096. Still the Prime Minister is properly optimistic. He is sure that with “economy, hard worljt and co-operation”, the difficulties that beset the Dominion will be easily overcome. THE CENSORSHIP. At the time of writing Parliament is sitting and it is hoped the business of the session will be closed before it rises this evening. The Labor members, however, are threatening to make a demonstration against the censorship, and of course the .discussion on the Finance Bill will open the way to a long and tedious debate if Mr. Holland and his colleagues care to take advantage of all the forms of the House by which their freedom of speech is secured. Mr. Holland mentioned the banning of certain literature on Saturday, and it was admitted on all sides that neither the Postmaster-General nor the Prime Minister was particularly happy in his explanation of the working of the censorship. It seemed to amount to an admission that the whole business was entrusted to a clerk in the Customs Department, with authority to say what the public should read. EARLY CLOSING. On Saturday the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill came back to the House from the council with an amendment providing that the small shop-keeper requiring exemption from the early closing law should make his application to a stipendiary magistrate and not to the Arbitration Court. Mr. H. E. Holland raised the objection that the adoption of the amendment would deprive the organisations of their right to appear before the constituted authority in opposition to any application for exemption, but the Hon. C. J. Parr held that other evidence than that of the official could be heard by a magistrate. Mr. Wilford admitted this was the case, but pointed out that mere witnesses could 1 not cross-examine those giving evidence in support of an application. The House, however, believing the rights of dissentients were sufficiently secured, agreed to the amendment made by the council.