The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, APRIL 24. MR ALLEN'S SPEECH.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 82, 24 April 1914, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, APRIL 24. MR ALLEN'S SPEECH.

B iv tteVl C v-, an ' l illdsive s P eeth <le■fetwlt lton b - v the Ho »- Mr Allen laS "l'l'arently'hail the effect Hf t)l '"8 for the time being the critics ■fcj l' em '' l *g a lead from {.'' *Y ai '"l, Who has gust arrived ° m , intei 'esting visit to AusK|, 0 the "good financial ■bit s«t W ' le alleges was left to tke or "p^- 0Ve """ e "*' ' s true '>'ing Squadron," or perR. be more properly ii, . ght Brigade," are*still. toik nf. se ' f "imposed and hopeu. , y ' u & to stop,the leaks and , t(l [ s °f their frail political °^ e er tattered rejthfl «9ads£ political

storm. Even the voluble Mr Russell J who, suddenly and unaccountably, as ■ pired to be an authority on finance, and who—to their confusion now—support- ( crs of the party accepted in an unguarded moment at his own estimate',of i value, has relapsed into a silence that [ must cause apprehension amongst those who hoped for great things from him. | Perhaps Mr Russell finds that the elec- ; tors of Avon will require more attention j than lie was disposed' to give, and- posI yibly the fact is coming 'home to him . that his powers of conversion and poli- • tical propaganda may be more profitably employed nearer home than he was disposed to think. To those who have given liny attention to the belated allegations that "everything was lovely" in the Treasury garden when the present Fin- | r.nce Minister took office it must Jiave occurred as passing strange that the Opposition made no attempt to controvert the position so clearly and explicitly set forth by Mr Allen in the Budget which he brought down within 1 twelve days of meeting the House in 1912. The fact is that the position as then set forth was unassailable, and was so accepted. It is only now, when the public finance has been restored and the Reform Ministry has replaced chaos and panic methods .with order ajid stability, that the wisdom of the Qpposition sets itself out in an endeavour to make the people believe that the position was not as it was shown in the Reform Budget of 1912. Before they can establish that the financial position was not such as was then disclosed they must impugne not only the veracity of the Minister but also of the officials of the Treasury and responsible heads of Departments. This of course they cannot hope to do, and Mr Allen is able to comfortably ■meet their onslaughts, as he did at Milton, by recapitulating the position as disclosed in his first Budget. The attacks of Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Russell and others are not likely to prove productive of any gratifying political result to them, but it is not likely they will cease in their efforts, they no doubt feel it necessary they should make t'oine effort to put the best face possible

on their methods of finance, ami also as it helps to divert the attention of tlie public from their reprehensible obstruction during last session and .the effect of their utterances during the strike in —unintentionally perhaps—aiding and abetting the strikers and making the difficult position still more difficult. The Opposition have certainly a "big hurdle" to get over in this respect, and they are wise in their generation in trying to cloud the position as much as possible. It must be generally admitted that the Government have had a most difficult and strenuous task in regard to the finances of the Dominion—a task which might have daunted the stoutest hearts, —but they faced it with boldness and sound judgment, and the results have met with the fullest success. The public finance has been restored, with resultant prosperity to the country, the producing interests of which were never better than they are to-day, as the trade returns amply evidence, while all the Departments of State are active and buoyant. The facts, indeed, speak for themselves, and that they do so is really tlie reason that occasions the Opposition so much concern and explains why their emissaries—their heavy calibre, their "flying" squadrons, and their '' light'' brigades—are engaged in a desperate attempt to make the country believe that the worse cause is really the better. Even the youthful and by no means convincing member for Westland has been called to the front, and was preaching the doctrine of the party in the North of Auckland when the historic town of Hokitika was being washed away by the angry seas and the people panic-stricken. >

HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION. We wish to c-all attention to the election for a member of the Otago Harbour Board to represent the southern country districts, which takes place 011 Wednesday next, and for which there are two candidates—Mr T. H. Russell, of Milburn, the sitting member, and Mr das. of Waipiata. We liaye uothing to say as to the merits of the respective candidates—both are country men, and have the country interests, art heart, — but we do wish to point out to our readers the necessity of taking such an interest in the poll on Wednesday as will strengthen the hands of the member elected by the district when it comes to a vote on matters intimately affecting country districts. At present the sitting member, when objecting to such an innovation as extending the harbour rating area, is met with the/argument that his constituents take no interest in the board, that they do not care whether the area is extended or not, that he only represents a/total poll of some 400 votes, and so Oil./ This is plating OUf representative }ii a false position, and we hope no sufcli handle will be given to the of extended rating by a meagre polling on Wednesday. We would iijisist on the necessity of every ratepayei - hi borough and county exercis-, ing his vote, a • small matter to each voter surely, but one which may be fraught with disastrous results should absence of interest give a handle which will lead to country rating for the upkeep of the Dunedin Harbour.