TELEGRAMS.

Grey River Argus, 29 May 1914, Page 6

TELEGRAMS.

ADDRESS AT LAWRENCE. (Per Press Association.) LAWRENCE, May 28. Hon. J. Allen addressed a mcc.ing ol his constituents here this evening. He pointed out that the surplus for the year amounting to '£426,905 did not include cash derived from sales and -from, deferred payment sales. All the cash from sales of land had been credited to .the Land for Settlement Ac, the gam being over £135,---000. The public would thus see how much stronger this act was than it had ever been before. There had been an all round increase in pensions of £32,000. As for those people who cried out about the defence expendi ure, he was sure that they would be pleased to know there had been a decrease in the expenditure of £16,697. The Government, had done several things :o make the burden of living easier for those who found themselve in difficulty. For instance provision had b(tn made to give the land tax commissioner power to grant a remission from land tax to widows with children. ' (Provision had also been made in regard to income tax for additional exemption of £25 for each child dependent on a parent. Taxation on flax land was amended Loans for depreciation on machinery and plants had been increased irom 7% to 5 per cent., thus removing «he legitimate grievances. These reforms should tend to reduce the cost of living to some people at any rate The public should not place 100 much importance on the reduction of customs duty as a means of reducing the cost of hyingThis was very -largely an election eenng cry. On the question of defence, the Mm is^er said that the Government's policy was to train men for the Britisn Navy and nothing else at the present time. Mr Massey had said that he proposed to ask Parliamen. to supply one cruiser at a cost of from £400 000 to £500,000, but he had no-doubt that Mr Massey would not press that ques tion this session., as a conference was to be called in London next year A vote of thanks and confidence wa* carried unanimously