SPAIN'S TROUBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 7

SPAIN'S TROUBLES.

Be Rivera Retains Interest

Until End. WISH TO SERVE COUNTRY. LONDON, March 17. The "Daily News" to-day publishes a letter it had just received from the late General Primo do,, Rivera denying the report that he went to Paris In order to fight a duel. The letter said: "I have come to Paris to think out calmly, auietly and restfully the best way in which I can serve my country." According to Spanish custom the general's body will be clothed in a white woollen robe, such as is worn in Spain by members of the Carmelites. The feet will be enclosed and the hands will clasp a rosary of black beads. FINANCIAL CHAOS. New Minister's Criticism of Predecessors. CAPITAL ALIENATED, MADRID, March 17. The new Minister of finance, Senor Arguelles, has caused a stir by surveying the work of his predecessors under the late General Primo de Rivera. • SenOr Arguelles charged them wit" plunging the country's finances into chaos, juggling with the Departmental accounts, allocating large Government contracts in order to secure supporters, provldihg thousands of their friends with sinecures upon committees, and working up demonstrations in the streets in favour of the Dictator at enormous cost. The consequence of all this, said the Minister, was an unprecedented outgoing of capital. During de Riyera's regime, he said, the Budget defidts were con> stantly Increased until in 1029 there was cme of two milliard pesetas* The former Treasurer has converted that deficit into a surplus by opening ft fresh account under the pretext of an extraordinary Budget.