MR. ALLEN IN REPLY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 840, 11 June 1910, Page 6

MR. ALLEN IN REPLY.

GOVERNMENT EXTRAVAGANCE. , THE "BACK-DOWN" POLICY. VIGOROUS CRITICISM. 'uy TeieeraDh—Press Association—CoDyrlzhi ' Hokitika, June 10. Despite boisterous and dirty weather Mr. J. Allen had a very largo iiieetlng at Hokitika this evening. Ho spoke in reply to tho Prime Minister, and dealt witli tho Government's treatment of Tiie Dominion newspaper. Sir Joseph Ward had said the paper was started to oppos,o the Government's land policy. What was tho Government's land policy—"back against the door,'' or "nailed to the mast," or last year's or nest year's? The Dominion was started to give fair play to tho other'side. The Government and Ministers utilised tho people's taxatioii to bolster tho Government paper. Government extravagance was exposed and proved .by Ministerial admission that 000 could be saved without impairing efficiency. Specific instances, were given of extravagance, including the financial 'advisor, tno "Mr. Smith" business, Parliamentary buildings, and 'the Nativo Land. Commission, which cost £9842, of which a Minister .received £1915. It was shown that retrenchment was necessary owing to tho increase ill expenditure increasing beyond tho increase in revenue bv £376,000. ; "

As regards misrepresentation, the Prime Minister • was responsible for comparing in his speech at Winton his revenue for the •• year, not with the revenue of the previous year, but 'with his estimate. As a matter oi' fact this revenue increased only in three Departments, the Railway contributing £339,000. The magnificent recovery referred to by the l'rime Minister .in i'ni s P ee °h Winton amounted to £31,667.

It was also pointed out by Sir Joseph that the Treasury 'bills had been reduced to £100,000 on March 31. It was quite likely they would ,go up again by June as happened last year. The cry that the Opposition never helped the Government was quite untrue: lor instance, they did' so in regard to the land settlement finance, workers 1 homes, amendment to tho old age pensions, education, social legislation and defeuco; hut no credit was ever given to the Opposition for this' or for finding a policy for the Government, and thus keepiiig them in office. No credit was given to the Opposition tor having urged the transfer of improper charges on the Public ' Works l' und 'to revenue, for assistance in making the superannuation schemes sound, for finding a'■ policy for the Government in respect to a sinking fund. Loss of Parliamentary contr<3 was also referred to. ■ , , Mr. Allen did not, oppose borrowing, but opposed the wasteful expenditure of borrowed money. The possible borrowing a;ul guarantees was f5,425,000, and tho public works . expenditure last year approximated- £2,000,000, The cost pw mile for railways had risen since 190S to_ £2012 per mile, and judging by his experience in his own district there was: tremendous waste. Tho late' Mr. Seddon had said a previous continuous Ministry had been kept in office by a lavish expenditure of borrowed money. This was more tme of the present continuous Ministry. They were liko limpets obstructing the ship of State. They had backed down on tho Land Bill, on l superannuation,' tho Knyvett case', the capitation, to school committees, and he prophesied they would back down on the now. railway regulation.

■ The injury to the'finance of local bodies by repealing the Loans Act, and the misstatement of the Prime Minister as to £800,000 at 31- per cent., _ without including the 1 per cent, sinking fund was alluded to. '

Mr. Allen referred to the constructive proposals of the Opposition in defence, land, and other matters,, and ended by. an appeal to stimulate a real national life in New Zealand.