The Otago "Times" and the Premier.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 156, 5 July 1887, Page 5

The Otago "Times" and the Premier.

The "Times" reiterates the correctness of its figures, which &ir Robert Stout will again challenge to-night. It says: "We trust the public will believe us when we my that Sir Robert Stout's version is not a fact. We here invito any inquirer to turn to B 1 Appendices erf Sessioia, 1884, and ho will there find that tor the year ending the 31st of Marc!), 1884, the total expenditure, after deducting interest and Sinking Fund, was exactly as we have stated. The estimate given, 1887-8, is also absolutely correct, for pi oof of which we refer our readers to the Financial Statement of the recent session, b. G, p. 8, 1887. There is a technical blunder in the middle figures of the above table, which are given as far as 1886-7, whereas they are those for 1884-fl ; but it; will be seen that the middle column did not in the least affect the argument?, Which was that the first and last figures showed a difference of L 101,063. Tho actual figures for 1880-7 are L 1,309,721, which tells against the Government <is against our former figures by L 145,518. The actual position then stands exactly os we stated it to be. Our financial deductions were as follows : 'Thus between the first period and the last we haveanincrcase of expenditure of £,191,063,' and sure enough at that figure the increase stands, avid no confusing in the world will make it different. To all this we have only to add that it is no pleasure to us to expose Sir Robert Stout's blunders, or in any possible way to drive him into a corner. After all, he is Premier of the colony, and we cannot but think he could secure reelection without resorting to any of tho somewhat, paltry electioneering tricks that would pass unDotiper) in smaller meni"