POLITICAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3039, 9 November 1908, Page 5

POLITICAL.

PRIME MINISTER AT AUCKLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, November 8. The Prime Minister, delivered a speech at His Majesty's Theatre, last evening, to a crowded audience. He quoted the expenditure on public works in the North and South Islands during the. last ; tpn years to show that the North had a balance of £2,149,584 over the South, made up of £937,857 on railways and £1,211,727 on roads and bridges. He referred to land settlement in Auckland to show that the Government was doing all that could reasonably be required. Out of £2,000,000 odd interest on the public debt over one million was for debt the Liberal Government took over when it came into power. The Government as a lending institution had done more and could do more than all financial institutions in the country. To nationalise everything the Socialists wanted would cost two hundred millions, and those who wanted nationalisation could get the reins of power themselves, and take the responsibility, for he would not. Referring to finance he said that during the past seven months the receipts had been £4,472,000, or £40,461 more than for the corresponding period of last year. For twelve months ended October the receipts were £312,502 more than during the previous corresponding period. Amidst an uproar from the Socialist crowd in the galleries a vote of thanks and confidence was proposed and carried.