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Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10738, 8 November 1928, Page 5

Dealing with the slogan “More business in government and less government in business” Mr Masters said the principle of Parliamentary control of expenditure by means of annual appropriations was being seriously weakened and, according to -the report of .the Auditor-General, .the amount of ■ expenditure ...for, the., year ending March 1928--not--subjeet-'to annual appropriation exceeded thirty-one million out of a grosc total of- fifty-seven millions, while, of this amount, eleven millions was expended without any amount having been submitted to Parliament by the departments, in their estimates. Parliament, said Mr _ Masters, was fast losing control of its .public expenditure ‘and! Ministers, being .weak, were being controlled by heads of their departments. The real tragedy of tho present position was that, in the primary producing country like New Zealand, the Government failed to do anything in the naturo of land settlement. While Reform boasted of achievements during the past three years no mention was made! by the party itself of any one thing having been done in regard to land settlement,, This was a blot on the administration' of a. primary producing country dependent for its wealth on the products of .'the land, and l it was regrettable that, while the population had increased in the past live years by 129,000, there acre 13,000 odd people less on flic land, it would be the policy of the United Party to undertake a progressive land settlement policy with a view to acquiring estates by voluntary methiods», if possible, and this failing, the compulsory provisions now on the statute book would he amended, made more effective, and applied. ’ The Government claimed that business principles were being applied in the Government departments ■ and that economies were being effected, but the cost of administration during the three years of the Coates administration iiad increased from £23,570,000 to £24,944,000, which went to show that the tendency was rather' in the direction of extravagance rather than economy.

Mr. Masters was. accorded a rousing reception, being greeted with prolonged applause on going on to the ,stage, and his remarks were re*ceived with the greatest cordiality, applausei being frequent. Mr. Masters said Mr. Poison was pledged- to •support the United Party against the Government on a no-confidence motion. ;

A motion of no confidence in the Govennent was carried by the meeting. ' ;