CRITICISM OBJECTED TO

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10428, 20 September 1911, Page 5

CRITICISM OBJECTED TO

SIR JOSEPH WARD SPEAKS HIS MIND.

Repaying to a deputation flrom. Keith Island CEamiberfe of Cbmy> metrcie yesterday, the Premier stated that the Government proposed ito, go on with the railway from tlie Napier end, and proposed to take the authorisation (this session. The question of the Tout© would be decided by the Government. Sir Joseph Ward could not resist such a chiamce to get "one ib'ack" on the Opposition. The Government, he said, provided the money for works that we<re reproductive, that did not impose ■any taxation on the taxpayers at 'all, and yet in a newspaper that was "supposed! to be voicing the views of the people and that was distributed in financial quarters l in London, the Gjoviernment was subjected to the vilest, abuse and the most contempt--1 iblle tactics in connection with the public undertakings that it was carrying on. Pielrsonalily, he did) not care, but he thought it was time the ,p,eopFe took notice of wlhiat ■ was 'going on. In no other country tin the world could they find the cry. lof "stinking fish" being so raised 'and the carrying out of a policy de- j itrimemtal to the professions, the ; (terriers, and the country a,s a whole. Pie Goveinnment could not respond (to anything like the number of applications received from settlers for (public, works—for railways, roads, fend bridges. This session alone the <cosd> of the applications would i lamount to about amd I fehe Government had only about i to spend That sort of j Ithing happened every year. The fejreat bulk of the public works were I paying interest on the cost of con- ! |s(truction, and yet, jiudging flrom \ jthe comments (made,, people outJside would be forced to" the oonolus|ion that New was going V» the dogsy whereas; it was the (strongest among the Australasian I /States financially. When the Govternmmt endeavoured lb limit the /expenditure to reasonable .proper- I /tions they fbundi an' attempt m&de : /to aggravate the financial position—lan attempt which, he repeated, was damaging New Zealand, and was> intended to damage the Government. (The Gnvwrnment, he adfcled, did not I (object to "criticism, but it did object #o the harm that was being done.