WAR EXPENSES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 150, 26 June 1915, Page 3

WAR EXPENSES

♦ IMPREST SUPPLY BILL PASSED A UNIQUE INCIDENT. It is rarely that Imprest Supply Bills pass through all stages of the House and Legislative Councli without discussion and the airing of electioneering grievances. On such occasions there ia the right of free speech. Yesterday, however, the Opposition gave away that right, and the First Imprest Bill went through all stages in the Lower House in little more loan twenty minutes. From there it wa^ cent immediately to the Council Chamber, and had an even more rapid passage. This is a uniqae experience in the case of First Imprest Bills, and tho reason was explained by Sir Joseph Ward. " The Prime Minister did me the honour to consult me on this matter,' ' said Sir Joseph Ward when the motion for the second reading- of the Bill was before the House. He added that he had given Mr. Massey an assurance that the Opposition would not discuss the Bill. It seemed desirable in this matter that they should assist the Minister for Finance to have the necessary funds provided for. The Bill provided for £1,269,000, including a sum of £300,000 to be transferred from the Consolidated Fund into the War Expenses Account, and to be repaid to the Consolidated Fund out of moneys to be raised by the Minister of Finance for war purposes. 'ihe schedule of the Bill included the following provisions:— Public Works Fund, £200,000: Aid to Water Power Works Account, £10,000 ; Irrigation and Water Supply Account, £10,000; for opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account, £9,000;, State Coal Mines Account, £25,000. The Minister for Finance (the Hon. James Allen) explained, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, that the transfer of} £300,000 from the Consolidated Fund to the War Expenses Account was to meet war expenditure. The Loan Bill of last year had not been sufficient for the purpose. The money would be refunded to the Consolidated Fund as soon as the Loan Bill was passed. . The difference between this aiid last year's first Imprest Bill was £310,000. ( > Sir Joseph Ward further desired to i know in regard ,to the contributions of the public,., if any portion "of them had gone into the Consolidated Revenue Account. The Minister said that the money subscribed by the public, to the amount of £160,000, had been paid into the War Expenses Account, and was entirely separate from the Consolidated Fund. The Prime Minister thanked the Leader of the Opposition and his followers for withholding discussion. The Government had not desired to shirk discussion, but he hoped this would not be the last occasion, but the first of many, on which he would be able to acknowledge the courtesy of his friend opposite. ' - • Sir Joseph Ward expressed appreciation of these remarks. The Opposition considered' it to be its duty at the present juncture to help the Government in matters relating to the war. The Government necessarily accepted the responsibility of its policy. The Opposition could not share in that responsibility. They wanted to help the Government in all matters connected with the war to the best of their power. (Hear, hear.)