MR MASSEY’S REPLY.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1924, Page 1

MR MASSEY’S REPLY.

WKU.I X(iTON\ -May (’>. “I{el'orriiito telegrams from Christcluiicli Labour Members oi Parliament which, I presume ap] oared in the evening papers of yesterday, which were in print before a copy readied mo.” Mr Massey said, “it com wires the date upon which the information with regard to jiiihlic nci omits is supplied in N'ew Zealand with the date upon which similar information is supplied in England. But the two eases are net ] arallel. liecause ill (treat Britain, cash is received and issued out of the Exchequer to various departments on March 31, and a balance is struck between receipts and issues. This is regarded as the surplus or deficiency !’■■> the ease mat he. In Xew Zealand all expenditure is made through the Treasury. To account properly for this expenditure it is necessary to clear all imprest vouchers received up t<> March 31 before the separate votes can he charged. In addition all revenue received into the public account at the hank at Wellington must be eorreitly ciedited as the various rash accounts arc obtained from receivers throughout the Dominion, consequently it is a matter of several weeks before the Treasury can strike a balance. Cash in the hank at the end of March affords no criterion of the state of the revenue account, as the balance of the public account is made up of public, works moneys and other loan funds, besides revenue. In the United Kingdom departments are allowed from ten to twelve months to complete their accounts, and have them audited, and presented to Parliament. In Now Zealand, on the other hand, abstracts of receipts and expenditure for the year must he audited by ofay 14 and then gazetted. This, together with the appropriation account, must he presented to Parliament, if then sitting. or, if not sitting, then within ten days of the next ensuing session. Details of revenue and expenditure are audited and presented to Parliament as soon as practicable. The Public Devenues Act says that the Treasury shall,

within fourteen days after the end of each financial quarter except the last, and within thirty days after the end of the last financial quarter, prepare nnd send to the Audit Office, an abstract of t o revenue and expenditure of the public account as provided hy this Act during such quarter, nnd shall, within thirty days after the end of each financial year, send to the Audit Office a similar abstract of revenue and expenditure of the public account during that year. The law in this respect has been strictly complied with. There lias been no suppression. The usual course is being followed. “So far as information with regard to tile financial position is concerned. I have already published figures of imports and exports fo<* the last financial year, whilst the facts with regard to revenue and expenditure of the larger departments have also been published. I presume, in every newspaper in New Zealand. I have also indicated that tile surplus would he satisfactorily substantial.

“As the members who signed the telegram are absolutely wrong ill their premises, so they are very far from correct in their deductions, for which T am alt-aid they will not apologise or withdraw. As for the suggested surplus of ‘well over three millions’ using the words of the telegram. 1 am sorry that such is not the ease, hut it is a surplus which will satisfy the public, ns it will be found to be the result of the industry of the people and strict economy on the part of the Treasury and financial departments. The balance carried forward from March 31 is now being used, and is essential for covering that period when expenditure is in excess of receipts, which is the ease at the liegiuning of each financial year. To satisfy my friends and show them that it is not well to jump at conclusions I may say tliaL the surplus will he well under two millions. Only yesterday, in dictating nil article which is intended to be made public in a journal well known to certain sections of New Zealander- 1 intimated that within a lew days I would be able to give the exact amount of the surplus anil oilier particulars in connection with the public accounts.. If my friends will read the I’uhlie Revenue- Act. from which I have already quoted, they "ill find that 1 have -till eight day- to go. In tiled statement that without increasing taxation a single penny piece the Government could meet the demands ol the public servants .Messrs Al'Combs and company have again fallen into a serious error. To meet the demands that have been made by the dillerelit ‘departments—and it goes without -saying that an increase to one department means an increase to all others it would have been necessary not only to refrain from reducing taxation during the coining session but also to inrrea-e it by a considerable amount. Having after a long struggle got the finances of the Dominion back to s satisfactory position I am not inclined in lake any risks. I know exactly what a suggestion such as has been made to me would mean if given effect to—another depression and very serious unemployment all over the country, because money that under ordinary i-iri’iini-tances is spent in employing labour would have to be handed over to the collector ol revenue. "I wish I could make the Lahout members lor Christchurch understand that all taxation is a levy upon industry and affects wage earners more seriou.Jv than any other section ''d the eoiuniunily. It i:. seaneU necessary for me to quote figures with regard to tile wages paid to railwaymeli. I should like to see every other worker in New Zealand paid as well as lliey are. but unfortunately it i- inn possible to do it. There was a table published in a CTiri-tihuri-h paper on April 23 which in il-1 have been a revelation to anyone who chose to read it, and which lias caused somewhat serious dis.-ali-laction among workers employed ill other industries, especially in country districts. It is absolute nonsense to say that the Government lias thrown the workers hack to the position they occupied over thirty years ago. Genuine worker.- have admitted to me repeatedly that they wen* never so well oil* as since the present Government came into office. Salaries were increased to employees of |lie State in the first year alter taking office. During ilie war period bonuses were several times arranged for until the war came lo an end, when it wa- calculated that the average wages lias risen in combined New Zealand services from £1(12.40 per cent, per annum in 1913 l<> £2lO in 1923. This includes juniors and female employee-. bill excludes liles-ngo hoys. 1 hope my I rieinls will lie satisfied with Ihe information which I have supplied. If not. Parliament will moil meet and they can get all they want. ’