SOME SEARCHING QUESTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 9581, 29 December 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

SOME SEARCHING QUESTIONS.

Prior to the Treasurer's meeting at Auckland, the Council of the National Association gave him writen notice of their intention to ask him a series of questions, and intimated that they thought them "more courteous than asking them unexpectedly at the meeting." Mr Ward, however, declined to answer any questions. The Council's interrogatories took this form:—

Is not the colony's guarantee for the security of principal and interest, under the Advances to Settlers Act, 1894, equivalent to a general mortgage over every settler's property, in consequence of which those wishing to borrow may obtain better terms than their own separate securities would entitle them to ? And is this just? The chief exports of the colony, wool, wheat, and mutton, having fallen in value since the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer delivered his last Financial Statement, is it not certain that agricultural and pastoral properties are now of less value than they were then, and that '.' bedrock " values are not ascertainable ?

Can you give any reason for supposing that the Government Department charged with administering tho Advances to Settlers Act will be more successful in avoiding bad securities than private or corporate lenders in the past have been?

Is it not a fact that tho net public debt of the colony has increased by £1,881,073 between 31st March, 1890, when it was £37,801,418, and 31st March, 1894, when it was £39,685,491, and does not every million pounds added to the public debt involve £35,000 to £40,000 per annum additional taxation ?

Do you believe that the public works executed under the co-operative system are as well and economically carried out as they would have been under the system of public contracts ? If not, is it fair to the taxpayers of the colony, or fair to the majority of the community who have to work under competitive conditions ? Ought not the State to secure the most efficient servants obtainable ? and if so, is it not wasteful and improper to make party services or

personal for ptwfceiiiploy* ' ment? • Have the appointments of agents and officers to administer the Advances to Settlers Act beea made with strict reference to the competence of the appointees, and without reference to the political party ? Can yon justify the evasion of the law by the virtual appointment of Colonel Prater aa Sergeant-at-Arms six months before it was legal to pay him any salary ? Will von support the Undesirable Immigrants Bill if that measure is proposed next session? Do you believe that members of Parliament ought to be protected from the legal penalties for libel when using their privilege of free speech in debate for the. purpose of making, deliberately, falsa accusations against opponents outside the House?

Do you propose to amend the law so as to simplify the present system of rendering the public accounts?