OPPOSITION POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 5

OPPOSITION POLITICS.

m MR MASSEY AT MILTON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Tuesday. Mr W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a large meeting at Milton to-night, where he was accorded a -,-t.te of thanks. He dealt with the finances of the colony. Referring to the public debt, he pointed out that it had increased in three years by £6,655,000, or £3 IS/1 per head; this only included what the General Government was responsible for. He admitted that part of the money had been used for reproductive purposes. He approved of borrowing in the colony so long as it could be done without raising the price of money. He thought it was evident by the action of the Government, that the rate of interest was being gradually raised. He thought they ought to restrict borrow as much as possible, and save the credit of the colony for the time when the colony would not be so prosperous. He thought the confidence of the Home people would not be restored until we had shown ability to do without borrowed money, and make both ends meet from our own resources. He believed the colony would have to revert to the system of sinking funds. He alleged extravagance on the part of the Government, and said the very people who had preached economy and self-reliance had gone back on these principles, and adopted the that money was no object.