“BOSH AND BUNKUM’’

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10096, 8 September 1925, Page 5

“BOSH AND BUNKUM’’

HON. A. D. McLEOiD AT HAWERA

VIRULENT ATTACK ON COVERN- , MENT CRITICS.

LATEST FINANCE INFORMATION ANALYSED.

(SPECIAL TO THE TIMES.}

“ HAW ERA, Sept. 5. •In weather that only, the heroic and the homeless- would be expected to be abroad in, people turned out in big numbers to near the political address delivered by the Hon. A. D. McLeod at Hawera to-night. Rain fell in torrents and Hail played a deafening tattoo on the roof of the meeting hall and the attendance indicates the keen interest there is in the coming election and demonstrated the desire of the people, to hear the bluff, hard’ hitting Minister for Lands. The Mayor (Mr E. A. Pacey) presided and introduced Mr McLeod as a man known to lie a most capable Minister an observation which the audiemce greeted with app’anse. Mr H. 6. Dick'e, who is to contest the Pa tea. seat as the official Reform candidate, was on the platform and he referred to the fine work Mr McLeod had done respecting ropati'iation and soldiers’ settlements. Mr McLeod replied to the statements recently made at a political gathering by Mr R. Masters, the member for*Stratford, and others, and described much of the criticism of the administration of the Government as ■'fudge, bosh and,bunkum.” “The figures I quoted at Pahintua >n answer to charges of gross extravagance made byJMr Masters arid other members of the self-styled National Party against the Government have not been challenged except by way of vague generalities, for which the member for Stratford is celebrated,” declared Mr McLeod. “1 take it is in their behalf, however, that a writer in the Evening Post (Wellington) has attempted to prove what they are so fond of generalising upon. I again reiterate, that the actual administrative costs have not been out of proportion to the population increases of the. periods ment’oned when the necessary salary additions or the decreased purchasing power of the sovereign—-whichever you like—are taken into consideration.” A CLOSER. EXAMINATION. “All the serious criticism of the Government expenditure-—and I emphasise the word ‘serious’—that continues to arise in regard to the largo commercial departments and increases are given without setting oil the increased earnings. For instance, while it may be admitted that the expenditure against railways and post and telegraphs was only £4,125,656 in 1914-15 as against £7.956,852 in 1924-25, surely it must be conceded that the revenue has increased ‘ from £5,460.118, to £9,989,400. Further, a •closer examination wiil show that, in 1924-25, a sum approximating £520,000 was shown on the receipts side of tho account which, in 1914-15, was deducted direct from the expenditure. It might be pointed out that the latter system had always obtained up to 1922-23, when the present more up-to-date system was adopted. The annual expenditure in 1914-15 was £7,874.626 and, with the added £520,000 mentioned, it was £14,760-689 in 1924-25. “It cannot be denied by any reas--nnab’o person that, during tho last decade, there has been a rise in prices and wages of at least 50 to 60 per cent. Taking the lower figure, this means that the figures for 1924-25 must be reduced by one-third before they are comparable with those for 1914-1915. Now, if from ihe expenditure figures for both years we deduct the working expenses of the railways

:;nd the P. and T. Department and. in addition, take from the balance for 1024-25 tho amount of departmental receipt already referred and, finally, to counteract the increased prces and w ages reduce the 1924-25 figures by one third, we arrive at the following figures, which are comparable and a much better indication of the increase in the burden of taxation. The figures are as folows: 1914-15. £3 748,970: 1924-25, £4.127,782. This shows an increase of only 10 per cent, whereas the increase in population over the same period is 19 per cent. These figures show that the implication of extravagant administration to the detriment of the taxpayer over tho last ion years is based on a. superficial examination of the figures and is enlire'v disproved by a close analysis. As a matter of fact, the average relative burden of the taxpayer for the cost of administration is less for 192425 than it was for 1914-15.

AUSTRALIAN INCREASES GREATER.

“The increase in expenditure is by no means confined to Now Zealand

and there have been greater, increases in the Australian States and in the Commonwealth. The Australian, figures over a period of five years from 1919-20 to 1923-24 advanced from 6122,564,901 to £161,802.227, showing an increase of £39,237.428, whereas, in New Zealand, over the same period, they advanced from £23.781,524 to £26.i45,005. showing an increase of £2,366.481. ' The detailed figures go to show that, for the six Australian States, tho average increase amounted to £6,539,571, as against the New Zealand increase of £2,366,481.

STATE ADVANCES.

"Tho Government has no need to make any apology in connection with its policy to provide financial help to the settlers and workers of the Dominion. It is admitted that there has been delay in considering indivicn.ni applications, hut that has not been tine, to any weakness in the system, but to tlie great popn'arity of the liberalised provisions of the State Advances .Act introduced by the Reform • regime. Jt is not a vain boast to say li.ar the work of the .Department for din* two years just past- constitutes a record and will compare more than favorably with the 'State assistance afforded to settlers to any other part •of the Emp’rc. Tho capita! of the Department as at the 31st March last, amounted to .-£26,776,000 and of this sum no less than .£3.175,000 was provided during the i;:st two years. Is iiidicntiii; the tremendous increase in the business, it is interesting to nete that, in the yea its 101.4 and 1915, -the total advances amounted to £3.360,000, whereas, during the years 1 9‘24 and 1025, the loans authorised anvunted to £14,000,00'). The btis - iiess is being well maintained and, since the Ist April last. 1.477 loans totalling £1,255 397 have been autli-ori'-'vl by tho Board. ‘’The Government lias not attempted to deny that, as a result of both local body’ and State borrowing, interest and sinking fund payments have increased at a rate, comparatively speaking, as to cause a degree of a rusk-tv. But what- assistance has the 'Government meowed from those members composing either of the Opposition sect’ona in br’nging the public to revise the fact that borrowing has' •ts liirdtat’ons of safety? When tho Govei-t,remit seeks* to keen capital expenditure on railways, roads, extensions, 5- '■•boohs build - iig% etc., within reasonable limits, who is t. with an on pol ing day. that clamours for increased expenditure, oltco running into double what is cons'de'ed safe for the Dominioii’s fuiaricinl stability? SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. Mr McLeod said the country could not become great unless it was well furnished w ; tb secondary industries. In the interests of these, industries, a protective tariff must- be ira, nt.ainr fed if von are oo'ng to remove these -protective tariff must ho maintained. •" If von are going to removo’these -protective duties,’’ he declared, “you aro going to shut up, two-thirds of Hie secondary industr es nt pf:scr-t at •work in this country. 7 ’ .. * .