WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1922, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. DEBIT BALANCE, £339,830. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, May 2'6. The statement of the public accounts for the .financial year ended March 31 last issued with the “Gazette” last night shows no departure of any consequence from the" figures quoted by Mr. Massey in his Feilding speech a fortnight ago. Tfie revenue for the year is shown to have been' £27,983,411 and the expenditure £28,406,837, leaving a deficit of £483,4-26. The Minister has not converted this deficit into a credit balance by the transfer of surplus Customs duties as he did at Feilding—that having been merely by way of illustration—bjit he has reduced it by certain “recoveries,” amounting to £143,596, to £339,830. Considering the financial conditions prevailing during the twelve months with which the figures deal the Minister and the country may count themselves extremely fortunate in having got through so well. With the Customs revenue down by £3,313,290, the income taxation shrunk by £6,002,996, and the railway returns less by £235,157 the position might have been much worse. The revenue declined by £6,209,575 while the expenditure increased by £398,209, and in the circumstances a deficit of only £339,830 seems rather a matter for congratulation. SAVINGS. The Minister of Finance has been careful to let the public know that the accounts for the year just closed would not show many of the economies the Government is effecting. The “saving” process, as Mr. Massey has explained, is a slow one. Services cannot be terminated on the impulse of the moment, and employees cannot be retired without reasonable notice or adequate compensation. But there really are some economies shown in the accounts, though exactly what they represent in the way of permanent savings is not disclosed. Post and Telegraph expenditure is down £139,672, Industries and Commerce £183,611, Internal Affairs £207,236, Defence £115.5©2, and Land and Survey £76,871, while the expenditure of several other Departments has been materially reduced. In addition to decreasing its expenditure by £139,672 the Post and Telegraph Department has increased its revenue by £108,323, so that it is actually £247,995 to the good on the year’s operations. The PostmasterGeneral has hinted at reductions in cliarges and they would be very acceptable to the business community, but m view of salary reductions Mr. Coates, on second thoughts, may not deem concessions entirely expedient. LIBERAL AND LABOUR. No official announcement has been 1 made yet concerning the intentions of the Liberal-Labour Party in regard to the Dunedin by-election. It is being assumed by people who still retain some interest in such matters that Mr. Wilford and his colleagues are endeavouring to bring about an arrangement that will avoid splitting among the progressive parties and so ensure the return of a candidate of the same party colour as .the late representative of the constituency. Meanwhile Mr. H. E. Holland, the leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, is proclaiming the death and burial of the Liberal Party, while the Evening Post is taking him to task for fomenting opposition to the only possible arrangement, as it thinks, that can bring about the proper representation of the mass of the people. The Dominion, on the other hand, is hoping, more than half in jest of course, that Mr, Wilford will not allow the Liberal Party to be dragged at the chariot wheels of Labour on its first public appearance under his guidance. Mr. Wilford still has to prove his qualities of leadership, but he is not likely to be greatly perturbed by gibes of this description. ADVERTISING. There is a concerted effort just now bv those interested in the welfare of the Dominion and its institutions to “boost” the Publicity Department established by the present Government immediately before the Prime Minister’s last visit to London. The Dominion this morning, after recalling the failure of the High Commissioner’s office in former years to keep the attractions of New Zealand before the public and the world at large, rejoices over the change that has been brought about. “The Publicity Department,” it says, “has done a great deal of useful work during the past twelve months. The frequency with which New Zealand matters, which it is of concern to us should be placed before the British trader and the British consumer, appear in the uritish newspapers nowadays is in marked contrast to the neglect we suffered under in bygone days.” Most of this is true and ipuch to the credit of the Government, but the authorities must bear in mind that when they became newsvendors they accepted the responsibility of supplying goods of unimpeachable character.