GOVERNMENT POLICY ANNOUNCED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2669, 20 December 1928, Page 5

GOVERNMENT POLICY ANNOUNCED.

STATE ADVANCES DEPARTMENT. DEALING WITH ARREARS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Wellington, this day. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward stated to-day that he had expedited the work of lending moneys by the State Advances Department, both for settlers and workers, and that 350 applications for loans which had been standing over for a considerable period, had been passed by the Board at a meeting this week for prompt payment. The amount of loans authorised by the State Advances Board exceeded a quarter million. The Prime Minister stated that he had given instructions that additional valuers would be put on to insure as prompt a return as possible in dealing with the applications that had been in the hands of the Board for as long as two years, amounting to over £3,000,000. Sir Joseph Ward st,ated that he had already arranged for £2,000,000 fresh money at a satisfactory rate, and he had every hope that by the time the present arrears were cleared off, he would be ab}e* to reduce the rate of interest and keep the State Advances Department in funds.

a THE RAILWAY PROGRAMME. PUSHING ON ALL WORKS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Welington, this day. In an interview this morning, Sir Joseph Ward said the Public Works Department had been instructed to arrange for an additional number of men to be put on the railways previously announced as part of the general policy of the Government, and to make arrangements to pxish on with the construction of the AucklandTaranaki railway, the Gisborne-Napier railway, the Inangahua-Westport railway, and the Midland railway to Nelson. The officers of the Department had also been advised to put matters in motion to get ready to go right ahead with these works. Definite instructions have also been given that surveyors were to be employed without delay to put in hand the surveying of the South Island Main Trunk railway, and this was to be done as expeditiously as possible. Sir Joseph Ward mentioned that there had always been croakers in regard to various railway projects, including the Main Trunk line in the South Island, and emphasised that the Government would not be deterred in its projects by such statements. With regard to the Gisborne-Napier railway, some question had been raised as to the route. Naturally, said Sir Joseph Ward, those raising this question were entitled to consideration. There was a difference of £600,000 between the proposed routes and official representations were quiite clear that the shorter route, which would save £600,000, would meet the whole requirements of the districts concerned. Before definitely deciding the matter, however, a full report would be obtained on the'matter, and if the same results could be obtained by savin? £600,000, the Government would most unhesitatingly adopt that course.

PRIME MINISTER IN TOUCH WITH LONDON. CONCERNING FURTHER LOANS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wellington this day. Sir Joseph Ward made a statement to-day in regard to the much discussed finance difficulty in London. It had been hinted, stated the Prime Ministez-, that the conversion of the matured loans of 1929 was a difficulty in the raising of fresh money, but while arising out of this there might be some, trouble, the proposals before him went much further and involved a marked departure from what has been the usual course in London finance, and had an important bearing, in his opinion, on the policy of the country, which had been endorsed at the election. As soon as he had realised this he had given very serious consideration to a review of the whole position, so as to decide the best course to pursue in the best interests of the country. This he had now been able to clear up, and had cabled to London his decision, the the result of which, when the whole transaction was completed, would become public. At the present, details could not be discussed.