SIR JOSEPH WARD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 47, 6 February 1911, Page 11

SIR JOSEPH WARD

REVENUE OVERFLOWING.

CONCESSIONS PROMISED.

[per press association.)

Auckland, Feb. 5.

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, addressed a largely attended public meeting in the Choral Hall last evening, and received an excellent reception. He replied to various criticisms of the Government’s policy on the lines of other recent speeches, and also gave some figures showing the flourishing condition of the finances of the Dominion. For the twelve months ended January 31st the finances had, he said, attained a position never reached before, the revenue during that period having exceeded that of the preceding twelve months by £1,088,000. For the ten months ended January 31st the revenue was also a record one, being £873,561 greater than for the corresponding ten months of the previous year, and by the end of the present financial year they, would have over a million sterling to the' good in the treasury. The £87,561 increase was made up as follows:—Customs £306,863, stamps and postal and telegraph £251,684, postal and telegraph cash receipts £23,000, railways £251,719, beer duty registration and other fees £2063, marine £2608, territorial £32,912, miscellaneous £2995. These increases, he said, had not been brought about by increased taxation. The extra sum received by the increase in railway fares did not amount to one-fourth of the increase in railway revenue. The Government hoped next year to make considerable railway concessions, particularly in second-class fares. The Dominion, continued Sir Joseph, was in a most prosperous condition. There were no unemployed, and any man in New Zealand able and willing to work could get work to-day. He quoted . figures showing the progress of Native and Crown lands settlement, and said that, since his Government took office the administration of the Lands Department had been more active than at any previous time. He denied the charges of extravagance levelled against the Government_and also again replied at length i?o Mr. Massey’s criticism of the raising of the £5.000,000 loan.

A motion of thanks ahd confidence in the Government was carried by a large majority. Sir Joseph Ward leaves for Ohakune to-night.