BETTER DAYS AHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 54, 5 March 1923, Page 3

BETTER DAYS AHEAD

PRIME MINISTER OPTIMISTIC

REDUCED TAXATION FORE-

CASTED,

(BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

HAMILTON, 4th March.

The Prime Minister, speaking at Hamilton, at a function to the member for tile district (Mr. J. A. Young), said that the recent set-back the Reform party had received was only what all politicians must expect .periodically. The record of his party was one that would go down, in history. They had had to face difficulties never before experienced, but gob through them with credit. The reduction in votes had been due to.vote-s-plit-ting. The difficulty to-day was to know whether, with the small 'majority, theyl could carry on. Personally he would not mind going to the country again, but he had the country, to consider, and if a general election was the lesser of two evils he would not shrink from. it. Another thing which helped to turn the eleotions against him was the cry that ho reduced taxation .in the interests of private companies and the wealthy classes. It was in'the interests of everyone he reduced taxation, and people should understand that no country could prosper overburdened with taxation. The redution of taxation would reduce unemployment and the cost of living. The fact that the Government was compelled to carry out drastic re-' trenchment was another rod used against them,' but these things had been absolutely necessary.

. Things had now taken a turn for the better. Fo.r the ten months of the present financial year, the xevenu© had increased by one and s, half millions, and the expenditure had decreased by two millions. There was a drop of two millions in the income tax collected. The surplus this year would be very satisfactory, and he hoped to be able to reduce taxation by two millions per annum, every penny of which -would go into circulation to help to swell the wages fund and keep down the cost of living.

During the coming financial year he hoped to par into the Advances Department a. further three millions, making t"he total, paid in twenty millions. The conditions during the coming year would be better than for a long time. The election was not over yet, as several petitions had to be heard, and theTauranga by-election would be a. tug-of-war. ■

When Parliament met, probably late in June, the other two parties togethed could not carry on, and Mr. Holland had. made it plain that if lie supported Mr. Wilford getting on to the Treasury benches, Mr. Wilford would have to act at Mr. Holland's dictation. Mr. Massey said that if he considered himself he would eet out of it, but he had the country to consider, He had contemplated a year's holiday, and had, received .oa invitation to visit the Empire Exhibition, 'but'could not promise, as it was impossible to leave the country until he saw things politically better than they were to-day.