FINANCIAL SATURNALIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 423, 4 February 1909, Page 6

FINANCIAL SATURNALIA.

.■;;:■■. •.;;; -candid criticism. SPEECH,;B7i MR: ! ; A: : W," RUTHERFORD.' ■.'■--• (BX TELEGKAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ,' ./:. .:■' ".^uiv ; ; ; Chrlstcliurch,"February 3; ■,:.Mr. A. W. Rutherford, ex-M.P. for Huru]iui,w.as entertained'at a banquet at Hanmer j last hight.-j The Hon.- D. Buddo'represented i;the'Ministry... Speeches,, eulogistic of-; Mr. Rutherford's services :to' : :the electorate, were l-mMe^V-'v' ':■'■'•'■■'■':'.'.'.'■ ' .'■ '''■■':■".'■ '.."..:'■''.. JBt TKLEaitATO.—SPSCTAIi CORRJtSPONDBNT.I . I; h- '":'vv ;; \ : ' ; "- '". ■■"'■ Christchurch; February 3. \ ■' Speaking-at a banquet tendered ..to hiia by his former, constituents'iat' Hanmer, Mr. A. 'iW.ißutherford.said:that a few days after the election he had written to the Prime Minister expressing his pleasure that the Opposition hadvgone ..back: .strengthened.•'. If he- had. ; known that, so, many, were going to be elected he.was.not. so sure'.that he :would have retired.' The last House; he had stated to the Prime'Mkister-,.: bad-no, life or "go" in,it. .The!. Prime' Slinister had_ replied very nicely indeed) sho_wjng-that a.little candid criticism was not objected to.by. "the. Government..' Mr. Rutherford dealt 'at some length with .the financial aspect;.of, affairs. He pointed out .that while a -heavy. loss,.was being made annually." on, the railways. the Government. was still paying half,;ainil|lion annually, in wages .to; co-operative workers '.who were engaged on donstruction wpr^s,';Which would only add to the, annual loss.,■-; : A; large number.' of expensive buildings' were : being erected for ,the purpose of. finding' employment for the artisans in; the'towns,-not to meet'.the'requirements; of the 'Departments. ; iThe 'new.;Post'Ofiice in was an instanceiof this, as'he was aware that the old building, even though ;it;was ;said to be too small,; was-not fully occupied .by the • Department. In; addition ; to .this ; tho'.P ; rime Minister ,had*a big building programme in 'connection, with the new Parliamentary' Buildings; r. The Government had also incurred-heavy 'liabilities "in connection with the various superannuation schemes, and there were still; further liabilities imposed in .cbniection with the annuities scheme arid the guarantee to the State Insurance Department, against ; claims :for : miners' complaint.; Thie hardly -be called, good, business, : and: he 'wasVsatisfied'th'at'Xin'a' taxation mustib'e : greatly' increased, to'meet these liabilities.;;.The;:policy:!was a popular ■ policy; .but ,it could. , not ;go:-,on. indefinitely: ; : TJntil the colony had'touched th'e-bedrock <jf hard times it. would .not.'.realisei.the.-financial saturnalia; ini. wtiich it had: been indulging. '■ He did riot •wish to'croak j he; was-confident that the day' of reckdningVwould ;conie. The Cabinet had. to deal .with'the.-most critical time in the history .of ithe/.country, and, he; hoped that they would' prove, themselves equal to , ";■'■''■. v .'-.'v. : " ■■■;