NEW ZEALAND'S DEBT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S DEBT.

In reply to your correspondent "Ajax," I can assure him that Mr. Barclay did not stat* that the national debt had been reduced by £0,000,000. His statement referred to the overseas debt, and Mr. Barclay informed his audience that the national debt had increased, quoting the respective figures for 19"5 and 1938. He stated the amounts raised by the present Government, and made a point of the fact that the money was raised locally. It is unfortunate that Mr. Barclay has been wrongly reported. He has himself had to make a correction of the report by means of a letter through the Press. As I was present at the meeting I can assure "Ajax" that every opportunity was given the audience to question Mr. Barclay. The listeners were somewhat diffident, but after at least three appeals by the chairman and an offer by the speaker to widen the scope of the meeting by answering any questions relative to the Government's general policy, several -were asked and apparently satisfactorily answered. From the gist of the questions it was obvious that some of the audience were vitally concerned with the import restrictions, and others were well informed on political matters, so there was no chance of misstatements being allowed to pass unchallenged. A. E. BUTT.