FINANCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 73, 20 March 1914, Page 3

FINANCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

SHI J. (;. WARD IX WELLINGTON. WKLLIXGTOX, March 18. Sir Joseph Ward ( Leader i.f tiie Opposition), speaking at- a social tendered to Lady Ward by the Women's Social and .Political League, dealt briefly with financial matters, be said that* Right i Hon. \V. F. ilassey's (i'riuio Minister) statement at .Nekiuii tiuit any of the settlers present could have financed the country .letter than th-e Liberals diet was ridiculous. Sir Joseph said that lie believed lue country's, pot-Lion was financially strong to-day and it was .so when the Liberals left office. No Treasure; of the Dominion had been left in a stronger position than the present Minister for Finance. They had never found the Liberals injuring the credit of the country, and the Liberals had never done anytiii-ng. to discredit the Treasurer leaving ihe.se shores for Home to obtain a loan which was well subscribed; but how did the Reform Government account- for the fact that the Russian loan was subscribed, not four-fold, but 7*2fold Liberal finance had never failed to give sufficient money for the cuun-" try's needs. Renewals of loans were going on during the whole period of the Liberals' tjme in office, but the Liberals had not been so foolish as io talk about them on the olatfcnn until they we;.: completed. \> nile in opposition -the lieformers had endeavored to (linen dir. the Liberal Administration; ye; a? m <,n as they got into office they ined tl.ei Liberals' successes to obtain t.iotr owi. loans.